Here we will compare two of the most popular workouts, riding a stationary bike vs running. Let's see who wins?
If you want to live a healthy lifestyle, it’s important to incorporate cardiovascular exercise into your daily routine.
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, adults should get 30 to 60 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise five times a week for optimum health.
Multiple studies found out that vigorous exercise for more than 5 hours a week can have negative effects on your cardiovascular health.
For some people, those guidelines seem doable while others might struggle to fit the daily activity in.
Especially if you have joint or back issues, or are just starting, it might seem intimidating to get on a treadmill and start running. That’s why it’s important to compare the advantages of exercise bike vs. running.
Fortunately, there are lots of different exercise modalities to choose from if you have to choose cycling vs running for fitness, and something that works for everyone. Here we’re going to break down two of the most popular, riding an exercise bike and running, and compare them.
Below we will outline the benefits of each, and important considerations like the muscle groups used, risk factors, and who would most benefit from the type of exercise.
Exercise Bike vs. Running - Benefits
Cardiovascular exercise has dozens of benefits, which is why it’s such an essential part of your daily routine.
Riding an exercise bike and running are two ways to get in your cardio that offers similar benefits, though the risks and contraindications are very different.
Here are just a few of the benefits you’ll see whether you choose to get your 30 to 60 minutes of spinning vs running.
Mental Benefits
Getting your heart pumping increases blood flow to your brain, which has lots of profound effects on the body.
This can decrease your risk of a stroke or developing Alzheimer’s disease and can improve your memory and ability to think and reason. You’ll also enjoy a release of endorphins that can improve your mood, energy levels, and reduce your stress.
Metabolic Benefits
Not only does cardio burn calories which can help reduce body fat and assist with weight loss, but it also increases the oxygen supply to your muscles which help them get stronger and better able to perform for longer periods of time.
In real life scenarios, this means more energy to chase after your kids, go on exciting vacations, and stamina to get through the workday.
Bone And Joint Benefits
If you get moving on a regular basis, you can stave off degenerative bone diseases like osteoarthritis and decrease your risk of falling and breaking something later in life.
What’s more, if you already have issues with arthritis or mobility, doing the right kind of low impact activity, like riding an indoor cycling bike, can help maintain your range of motion and reduce discomfort in your joints.
Cycling vs Running for Heart Health
Regular activity wards off a whole host of diseases, like high cholesterol, diabetes, chronic fatigue, and issues with your lungs, heart, and other organs.
Cycling Vs Running Muscles
Riding a bike or running use the same muscles as the primary movers in the exercise. Your leg muscles, including the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves are responsible for most of the movement, and the calories burned.
When you run, you will recruit a few additional muscles. Your obliques, abdominals, lower back, and hip flexors, also commonly called your “core” would be put to work helping you balance with each stride. You will also use your shoulders a bit as your arms swing with your pace.
However, even with the additional muscle involvement, the calorie burn per minute between the two exercises is nearly identical if you’re working at the same intensity.
Cycling vs Running for Calories
To lose weight, you need to find the best balance of your calories. You can lose more amount of calories by running. However, if you cycle for long hours you can lose them by the same time of running. Also, choosing an exercise bike from top bike brands can give you better results
However, losing calories by running depends on which sport you choose and how you include your food habits. Cycling is good for joints, whereas, running is better to burn more calories.
Exercise Bike Vs. Running - Risks
While the exercise bike and running have lots in common, where they start to differ are in potential risk factors.
What Are The Risks Of Riding An Exercise Bike?
Exercise bikes are considered one of the safest pieces of cardiovascular equipment. Because riding is a non-impact activity, it’s a great choice for anyone who has issues with their joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, or balance. Because it’s done from a seated position, it’s also a perfect fit if you have back problems and need additional support.
It’s often prescribed in clinical settings as a rehabilitative exercise because nearly everyone can ride an exercise bike worry-free, but that doesn’t mean that the workouts aren’t challenging.
Advanced athletes and exercisers can take the workout up a notch by increasing the resistance, pedaling faster, or using a pre-programmed drill that simulates hill riding or tough intervals to get a high-quality stationary workout without stress on the joints.
What Are The Risks Of Running?
Whether you're someone who runs indoors or outdoors, there are a few additional risk factors to be aware of before you lace up and head out. Running requires balance and coordination and is considered a high-impact activity.
If you have any joint issues, it could be not only uncomfortable but may also pose a dangerous risk of injury.
Additionally, while treadmills are a very safe piece of equipment, they are powered by a motor that won’t stop just because you do. This fact results in around 20,000 visits to the emergency room each year from someone falling off the equipment due to a misstep or user error, so be careful and follow the safety instructions.
If you're someone who likes to run outside, you’re at an increased risk of injury due to a fall.
Having a bad footfall on uneven pavement or a trail could lead to a twisted ankle, and if you’re not near to other runners or a neighborhood, you may have to wait awhile for someone to help. Be sure to always take your cell phone and identification with you in case of an incident when you’re out running.
Both exercise bike and running can help you burn calories, however, it depends on the intensity and the hours you do it. Running, burn more calories compared to cycling because, it uses more muscle strength, whereas, cycling is much gentle with your body.
The basic rule is 1:3 run-to-bike ratio. It means one mile of running is equivalent to 3 times more of cycling effort.
When you compare cycling vs running for belly fat, then yes, an exercise bike can help you do that. However, many other factors also help you to burn your belly fat like, suppressing your diet, your fat-burning hormones, etc.
The bike is better than treadmill because when it comes to the result and looking after your joints, running can add more stress. It will add pressure on your spine, hips, knees, and ankles. Whereas, bike is perfect machine for dodgy knees.
You can cycle for half and hour every 5 day per week. You can burn 1500 calories if you are of 125 pounds and ride for 15 miles. However, you can also burn 1200 calories by riding 12 mile per hour if you cant cycle much.
Walking with average 5 to 6 kph can help your burn 225 calories, while cycling at a good pace for 21 kilometers will help your burn 130 calories.
Conclusion
When determining between exercise bike vs running, the answer is pretty simple.
It’s whichever one you will do consistently.
For many people, the impact and potential injury risks associated with running are scary, and the activity itself is too advanced for their fitness level. Riding the exercise bike gives you all the benefits with none of the risks, regardless of how in shape you are.
No matter which you choose, be sure to aim for at least 30 minutes a day five days a week to live a healthy, happy, and mobile life.