Training & Nutrition - Best Cardio Workout To Aid Cycling

We can't just be cycling everytime right? We have to do different cardio exercises to actually aid cycling. What are the views of you people? I feel like running and swimming would be the best in aiding the development of our body for cycling. Your views?

No, you can cycle everytime. If you want to be a good cyclist you cycle, you don't run or swim. Why do you think you necessarily have to engage in some kind of other aerobic activity to improve your cycling rather than just riding more?

Hey, I used to run alot when I was younger. I used to always come first in the sprints and stuff in shool, but I can't do long distance (like jogging). For some reason it's too hard on my legs.

Also, I agree that swimming is a very good workout but I can't swim so I don't do that.

All I do is bike and play basketball, bike and play basketball, that's all I do. Day in day out. I bike a couple miles to where I am going to play ball and then after a couple of hours I bike back.

Actually I don't do that everyday because I have to work and other stuff but I bike 6 out of 7 days a week and play ball usually 3 to 4 times a week. I sometimes (although not as much as I used to) go on long walks, like 20mile or more where I would leave in the middle of the night and come home when people are going to work.

That's all I do, day in day out.

There are about two months of the year when even I can't ride in Montreal [those months are January and February, if you're wondering]. In that time, to maintain some kind of aerobic fitness as keep from getting too fat, I run and use the aerobic trainign machines at the gym. I also ride my bike on a trainer, ride the trainers at the gym and take spinning classes, so I do a fair bit off indorr cycling.

Non-cycling aerobic sports will help you maintain aerobic fitness, though they probably won't improve it unless you go at it with single-minded dedication. You will lose cycling muscle condition when you're not riding [hence my obsession with indoor training]. It will take three weeks to regain the conditioning you lose for every week off the bike.

Originally posted by oxologic
We can't just be cycling everytime right? We have to do different cardio exercises to actually aid cycling. What are the views of you people? I feel like running and swimming would be the best in aiding the development of our body for cycling. Your views?

If you can't cycle, then doing some sort of aerobic activity is better than nothing. Swimming is mostly upper body, so it would not be that good. Running is pretty high impact. Actually walking on a steep incline is probably better for cycling than either running or swimming.

But you get right down to it. If you want cycling fitness, cycling is what you have to do. I have ridden with nationally competitive body builders and crushed them on a bike. Most can not get over 25 mph on flat terrain (they can not generate enough RPMs). Most runners are poor cyclists. And many triatheletes can be really poor a certain aspects of cycling - like hill climbing.

Now, if you want to increase your overall fitness, do some cross training. I mean you can be a strong cyclist and have a hard time just jogging across a parking lot.

Using your muscles the same way all the time can cause problems, too. That's why it's good to do something else. I have back problems from time to time and I find going to the gym and doing some other types of cardio activity as well as weights really does help. Running may be hard on the knees. I use the elliptical trainer or ometimes will walk for 15 min or so on the treadmill. During the winter I'll also do spinning classes at the gym, which are more intense. I was going to let my gym membership lapse from june to about sept, but the weather has been so crappy I extended it another month. ANd I find that combining cycling with going to the gym is really beneficial. Also, I've lost 6 pounds.

I alternate cycling with running to get a cardio workout on cycling recovery days.

Originally posted by TotalKos
I sometimes (although not as much as I used to) go on long walks, like 20mile or more...
I also like walking. It's a great recovery exercise, because it doesn't overstress the heart and uses different leg muscles (maybe that's why some cyclists find it hard to cross over.)

Man, after a 6 mile walk, talk about tired legs! Ahh, but it's a good feeling!

I agree with the idea of cross-training. It's a known fact that cyclists who don't do anything else tend to lose some bone density. Walking is great for adding a weight-bearing exercise to your schedule, which also strengthens bones.

The feeling of strengthening other muscle groups is great.

Most runners are poor cyclists.

Are cyclists poor runners then?

Originally posted by oxologic


Are cyclists poor runners then?

Good distance runners tend to be really thin. They are heart, lungs and legs and not much of that either. Every ounce works against them. They do not have the aerobic power to be good cyclists. Weight in cycling works against you on hills but otherwise not.

When I am talking about "poor cyclists", I am talking about someone in who is successful in competition in their sport. I am a fast recreational cyclist and I have been surprised at how easily I can outperform atheletes from other sports. I know the reverse is true too. If I don't train for it, I can't do it well. Atheletic training is amazingly specific.

I walk. I am able to walk around the block at work during lunch and dinner hours. I usually hit 4 miles per day (about an hour).

What I found strange, is that on all the calorie calculators, walking for 1 hour consumes more calories than biking. I assume that is the assumption of exercise physiologists that biking inlcudes coasting and doesn't account for cadence work.

i am a multi-sport kind of guy although i cycle more than anything else.

as has been said here, if all you want to do is improve your cycling, then cycling is the best way, maybe occaisonally doing some weight training or other cardio. then when you can't cycle, running, x-country skiing, rollerblading, swimming, hiking, basketball, soccer, etc. can all be helpful at maintaining your condition.

if you just want the best way to keep your cycling fitness while not on the bike, i think x-country skiing is the best choice (although it's not an option for everyone and only during part of the year, but often when it's most difficult to ride). then anything aerobic like running, rollerblading, swimming, but also soccer, basketball or other sports assuming you run a lot when you play and don't just play lazy shooting baskets half-court or whatever.

on the other hand if you want to be generally healthy, doing a variety of activities is probably better.

i have never concentrated whole-heartedly on any one sport, but have been relatively competitive (meaning i can place in the top 25%) in many types of ametuer racing: MTB, road, bicycle track, triathlon, x-country skiing, ski touring, adventure racing, rollerblading. plus i'm competent or competitive at many other sports: volleyball, soccer, downhill skiing, snowboarding, climbing, mountaineering, etc.

in any given week i cycle a lot both for basic transportation and for training and then do at least one other sport activity as well as some weight training. it's not the solution to being the best in any one sport (i will probably never be the best in ANY sport), but it's fun and keeps you healthy and helps prevent injury and overuse and overtaining... plus i enjoy it and hope to be cycling, skiing and hiking until the day i die

Cross training is essential in my book. Swimming the following day after a particularly hard workout cleans out all the left over soreness and gets me ready for my next killer bike or run!