Foo - Are Runners closer to nature than Cyclists?

Recent studies show that simply by having positive contact with nature will mean that you feel closer to it. So if you use the 'natural' environment in a particular way does this change the degree of affinity one feels.

It could be said that as cyclists travel at higher speeds they take in less of what's around them. I'd like to hear your opinions via the forum and get some info. via a survey if you can spare 3-4 minutes. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Closeness_to_Nature

Are Runners closer to nature than cyclists. Do vegetarians differ significantly to carnivores in how they feel about nature, do BMX enthusiasts get the same things from being in the environment as naturalists, and does a Snowboarder feel the same way as someone who’s into surfing!
Recent studies in psychology show that spending time in nature is good for mental health as well as physical health, simply looking at pictures of the environment has been shown to change peoples behaviour .
So if looking at pictures, of trees say, can influence people to be more generous I wonder if there are different things that people get from the ‘natural’ environment.

I’m posting this as I think this is something that may interest people. I’m carrying out a pilot study for my BSc that takes around 2 minutes to complete online and I’ll let anyone who’s interested know what I found out at the end
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Closeness_to_Nature

It's only clicking buttons and requires no hard thinking or written answers and its completely anonymous

Doubtful. 1. Most cyclists are out for a longer period of time communing with nature. Maybe we enjoy it more since our pain is less intense. Bikes are not so fast that we can't still sniff the fresh mountain air.

no...what you do has NOTHING to do with how close you are to nature.

I am wearing a bear suit. grrrrrr, grrrrrrrrrr

yup
http://www.vaguebuttrue.com/images/1231474031-deer%20chases%20boy.jpg

counter point

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r162/jsharr/deer.jpg

I grease my chain with whale oil which definitely makes me feel close to nature than those slaves to petroleum.

Doubtful. 1. Most cyclists are out for a longer period of time communing with nature. Maybe we enjoy it more since our pain is less intense. Bikes are not so fast that we can't still sniff the fresh mountain air.

I've not done any research on the effect of speed and perception but I would imagine that senses and thought processes are possibly heightened due to the need to react much faster.

Could it be said that you were taking in more information at greater speed and paying more attention to your environment in which case you could argue that you were more closely alligned due to necessity.

i bike to be outside runners run for health

on the other hand
http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/pee-wee_herman_2009.jpg

Runners are obviously closer, as they are only seperated from nature by the thickness of their sneakers. Cyclists are off the ground a bit. Most cyclists endeavor to avoid contact with nature, especially sudden contact at speed.

op:

I tried your survey, but none of your choices applied to a road cycling, and when you type in "other" It was regected. I ride outside to enjoy nature, and get a lot of exercise. Nothing is cut and dry.

I ran over a snake at speed once on the mtb. Definitely prefered that to the "communing" I would've had if I was on foot.

A focused althlete is generally not that close to nature no matter where they are running or riding.

I took up mountain biking because it combined my love for cycling with my love for nature. Problem is I find I poke along sometimes because I get all wrapped up in checking for wildflowers, water, critters etc. I also like to hike and can poke along doing that as well . But before someone thinks hiking is closer... I have been out with cardio folks... good lord, talk about focused! Those folks are just into going hard and fast... nature ain't important!

reminds me when I first got a 4wd truck and took my sister to the beach. she got out and layed belly down and did the snow-angel thing in the sand. she was trying to get as close as possible to the beach sand as she could. don't worry, we got her help, but I imagine that's about as close to nature as yer gonna get.

I suspect the machine separates you from the ground so then running is a more intimate experience.

It all depends where your ride/run, your pace, and your intentions.

I am wearing a bear suit. grrrrrr, grrrrrrrrrr

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n56/jabarnhart/Random/bearfuker.jpg




Runners are obviously closer, as they are only seperated from nature by the thickness of their sneakers. Cyclists are off the ground a bit. Most cyclists endeavor to avoid contact with nature, especially sudden contact at speed.

+1

I try to avoid getting too close to nature myself in that perspective.

They are closer. And no vegetarians don't feel more connected they feel less. Fact. 1 in 3 vegetarians doesn't feel close to the Earth. All Meat eaters fell close to the Earth. Can't argue there's numbers involved.

I think recumbent riders are closer to nature than mountain bikers who are close to nature than bmx riders who in turn are closer to nature than roadies.

They are closer. And no vegetarians don't feel more connected they feel less. Fact. 1 in 3 vegetarians doesn't feel close to the Earth. All Meat eaters fell close to the Earth. Can't argue there's numbers involved.


huh?

I've not done any research on the effect of speed and perception but I would imagine that senses and thought processes are possibly heightened due to the need to react much faster.

Could it be said that you were taking in more information at greater speed and paying more attention to your environment in which case you could argue that you were more closely alligned due to necessity.

Could be compared to the isolation of being trapped in a car, all perceptions seem more aware of your surroundings. Plus, the effects of deep breathing and athleticism. . Don't we say something like breathe deep and smell the roses.

huh?

+1


Nice avatar BTW.

I just swam a mile, rode 16, and ran 1.8. Does that make me really close to nature? I'll be eating meat soon, too!

From what I've seen runners are usually not close to nature. Most run on the street and avoid any trails. When I was in college there were lots of runners around town, but I ran the cross country course to train. Except for teh guys on the cross country team, some other rugby players and a lone baseball player I never saw anyone else run the course.

But there are a few runners that are close to nature. I saw one running up a local mountian trail a few years ago. Dirt and elevation change. Good training, bad to bragging about how many miles he ran.

Speaking of baseball, that's when I was closest to nature. I usually had a few grams of earth embedded in my abraded elbows, knees, and thighs.

I'm closest to nature if I catch my toe in the ground and trip, landing on my face. I'm also closest to nature when I slip up on my bike and collide with the earth. Both hurt and I don't like that kind of closeness to nature.

Although, the neatest example of closeness to nature was last fall when I was riding through the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto and stopped my bike when I saw a hawk enthusiastically eating the entrails of a squirrel. That was cool.

Here it the pic I took with my cellphone. It's lousy, sorry. But I wasn't about to interrupt Mr. Razor Beak's supper and get any closer and the digital zoom on my cell phone is pitiful.

http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae96/ZionaRK/27-10-09_1743.jpg

Runners may notice smaller detailed stuff, but cyclists travel more and see more.

When I was a runner, I usually just ran around in the same neighborhoods or even at the track during the winter. In contrast, cycling sometimes takes me out in the open countryside.

I thus feel more aware of scope of nature as a cyclist.

Sorry. I should explain for the OP that baseball is like cricket except that there are 4 bases rather than 2 wickets, you have to run even if you don't think you'll make it, fair territory is 90 degrees rather than the full 360, and the games only last 2 or 3 hours.

Are your fellow humans nature? Are you nature? If you are not, get off the planet now.

it all depends on where we ride, I know a lot of guys that never rode thier bikes outside the city, and I know a lot of runners that do the same.

Anyone that thinks that runners are closer to the Earth than mountain bikers has never augured really, really hard.

I enjoy the occasional trail running outing. It doesn't make me feel closer to nature than biking on the same trail. I'm a pretty calm MTBer, though - I don't go looking for big air or pushing 100% the whole time.

Like Velo Vol sez, a bike can get you farther from the beaten path more quickly than a pair of shoes so you can get to places most people won't bother running out to. Packing a tent and sleeping bag on a MTB is a bit more comfy than trying to run with 'em on your back as well.

Sometimes my cycling brings me face to face, skin to terafirma with nature.

On an mountain bike, few miles inside the woods, I feel closer than ever.

I enjoy the occasional trail running outing. It doesn't make me feel closer to nature than biking on the same trail. I'm a pretty calm MTBer, though - I don't go looking for big air or pushing 100% the whole time.

Like Velo Vol sez, a bike can get you farther from the beaten path more quickly than a pair of shoes so you can get to places most people won't bother running out to. Packing a tent and sleeping bag on a MTB is a bit more comfy than trying to run with 'em on your back as well.

I love trail running, so much so that I'll drive across town or even out of town to get to wilderness trails to run on rather than run from the house. Conversely, I only ever bike from the house and am limited in my "bicycling close to nature" experience to the paltry hundred plus miles of x-c ski trails and greenbelt MUPs within riding distance of home.

As for packing a tent and sleeping bag, I usually just walk rather than run. It takes longer, but I'm a lot less likely to roll an ankle while carrying a 45-50 pound pack and it's an easier pace to maintain for a weekend or even a whole week. Plus, once I'm above treeline I'm no longer limited to trails.

You certainly get more bang for your buck in terms of workout efficiency vs. time... you can get a lot more exercise running in the same equivalent of time vs. cycling. Don't get me wrong - I love to ride - but for fun. I don't have 2-3 hours a day to ride to "get in shape" when I can run hard for 45 minutes and get a greater fitness benefit. :)

You certainly get more bang for your buck in terms of workout efficiency vs. time... you can get a lot more exercise running in the same equivalent of time vs. cycling. Don't get me wrong - I love to ride - but for fun. I don't have 2-3 hours a day to ride to "get in shape" when I can run hard for 45 minutes and get a greater fitness benefit. :)

This is true. I seem to be able to reach oxygen debt much easier by running! Similarly with MTBing on killer trails vs. riding the road bike. Once you get to that point where you're right on the edge, you're really not in touch with nature, whether on bike or trail running, you've just got tunnel vision doing everything you can not to trip or endo on a rock.

Either way, much fun can be had, just gotta occasionally slow down a bit if you wanna be in touch with nature.

Depends how concious you are of what's going on around you. If you follow nature's rhythms like enjoying spring's first Red-winged Blackbird (just the first - they get tiresome after a while) or winter's Long-tailed Duck calls on the lake as you are riding along it doesn't matter how you travel as long as you are outdoors. If you are just focuing on your HRM, not so much.

Do you think that maybe because you're focusing on your environment because you have to that you might be taking in something more than just what is immeadiately around you?

Do you get a sense of pleasure maybe of being in a 'natural' environment than being in a man made one?

It's pretty subjective what you think of a 'natural' etc but its what you think that counts. It's not about making moral judgements it about what you get out of it.

Trail running rocks. City asphalt running sucks.

I'm not going to start running, so for me the question is irrelevant.



I'm not going to take your survey either.



I kind of wish they would make you post X comments before you could start a thread.

I'm not going to start running, so for me the question is irrelevant.



I'm not going to take your survey either.



I kind of wish they would make you post X comments before you could start a thread.
Ok, one hilarious thing about Foo posts not counting is that this person, after starting a thread and posting in it, still doesn't have any posts... :lol:

Do you think that maybe because you're focusing on your environment because you have to that you might be taking in something more than just what is immeadiately around you?

Do you get a sense of pleasure maybe of being in a 'natural' environment than being in a man made one?

It's pretty subjective what you think of a 'natural' etc but its what you think that counts. It's not about making moral judgements it about what you get out of it.
What cool virus will your survey load onto my computer?

Runners are obviously closer, as they are only seperated from nature by the thickness of their sneakers. Cyclists are off the ground a bit. Most cyclists endeavor to avoid contact with nature, especially sudden contact at speed.

But what if nature is 20 miles away? Riding there is not a problem. Even when I was young, and very fit, I wouldn't have made it running round trip.

Just thought that I'd give people a chance to put forward their own viewpoints.

It's fairly easy to get people who have environmental and conservation interests and they are used to filling in surveys and signing petitions etc.

This tends to bias the results so I thought I'd try to get people with other perspectives to put their considered viewpoint over. There are always people who will treat these issues in a glib and boorish fashion but I've found that most people have an interesting perspective that throw up some good questions if you give them the respect and the chance to do so.

For instance what is 'nature' for some people so far who have left comments in the survey feedback. For some its as small and simple as a few pot plants or a windowbox for others a huge wilderness.

ps
sorry no ring tones, viagra, nigerian bank money or virus's. Sadly legit and academic

ps
sorry no ring tones, viagra, nigerian bank money or virus's. Sadly legit and academic

We never said it was or wasn't legit. It's just, well, kind of rude in general to come into a forum with no previous history and start asking a bunch of questions. It's not just a BikeForums phenomenon; I've seen it at other forums as well.

what a bunch of doped out hippies.

i feel at one with mother nature...it's like being reborn every time i ride. geez.

According to the late George Sheehan whos books have impacted my life, "The philosophy of running is the philosophy of holism to function as you are supposed to function, to achieve your personal best" - Obviously he had the passion for running and impacted the sport tremendsly, but he applys the same principals to other sports as well. My personal opinion is we can have equal closeness to nature.

I sense a bit of competitiveness here, too; runners are closer -- no! bikers are! Ptaah......

Nature's competitions are for two things -- survival and reproduction. Everything else is simply existence. Sure, there's always the exception, like the whales who frolic between feedings, etc. But most are just... there.

For me, there is the elemental purity to nature, that just seems to resist and even overcome all the flash and jazz of society. I keep my bedroom window open ALL year long, in NE Indiana, where we routinely see below-freezing temps and wind during the winter months. Riding season here, for most, is from spring break to Labor Day. But the open window brings me fresh, (somewhat)clean outside air constantly. I relish the brisk tightness of a cold morning with the kids while we wait for the bus. Then, I'll get on the bike and ride to work.

I'll stand and watch the rain fall (quit walking in it when the last three trips made me ill), losing track of time and place, just thanking the Creator for washing down the filth we're doing to the rock. The only time I mind the wind is when I'm sitting outside, either reading or eating, and the wind tries to blow my stuff away.

When I ride to work, I see the trees, feel the wind, and whether it gets stronger or weaker by my ride direction; birds fly low, squirrels scamper and dart, insects fly erratically, sometimes we meet at speed. When I ride for fun, that's when I see the trails, and all the off-the-path stuff. Remote areas that see little traffic (or none), wildlife in the city sometimes, and the very earth dances with me as I cut and tear along trails formed by thousands of feet and fat tires. Sometimes earth wins the dance, and I have to get off and walk -- then I can see what's there, in detail. I huff and puff, and the earth accepts that kindly.

In the vicinity of my bike, outdoors, there's always a smile on my face. I smile, and nature is good. Better than the crap we've done with it.

so DX Man, since bikers are inherently faster, are you saying "screw the runners?":innocent: