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Does cycling impair walking?

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Does cycling impair walking?

Old 08-08-08, 10:33 AM
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Does cycling impair walking?

For the past 18 months I have commuted to work most (9/10) days via bicycle - 36 mi RT. I really enjoy it and ride in all four seasons.

This past week I have not been able to commute at all, due to some renovations at our office building that put our locker room out of service temporarily. The good news is it is only for a week! This is the first time in a long time that I have not ridden for a whole week.

I noticed today that walking seems less difficult for me. Not that it was ever "hard" but it seems like my legs are more limber/flexible and walking seems more natural and less labored. Its as if cycling somehow made my legs stiffer and my gait more rigid. Sorry for the vague description; it is hard for me to elaborate on.

My question: has anyone else noticed that cycling affects their walking or is this affliction uniquely mine?

Last edited by hankbrandenburg; 08-08-08 at 10:42 AM.
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Old 08-08-08, 10:37 AM
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Yes it happened to me too. I had started eating lunch inside and not going out for lunch. And this was like 2 weeks into cyclocommuting. One day I decided to walk with co-workers to lunch and I was like oh my goodness...I don't know how to walk. lol

Seriously. I would ride to work. Stay in office walk around office a bit. Get back on bike ride home and stay in the house. I did this for like 2 weeks pretty much. All my walking was limited to around the house or around the office.

The first time I had actually walk some blocks..I was like WHOAAA! I had to figure it out all over again pretty much. It was really weird considering I am a walker..well that was until I got my bike. I would sometimes randonmly pick a direction and start walking...listen to mp3 player and have a good time.
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Old 08-08-08, 10:40 AM
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I think maybe your title is wrong.. to impair would imply that it's made your walking more difficult, while you say it's less difficult and more natural.

For myself, I push pretty hard when i'm on by bike, so when I get off walking can be a little more difficult up stairs and hills.. heh, heh... but on off-bike days i'm fine.
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Old 08-08-08, 10:44 AM
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Because of cycling I now walk like a Pirate - Yah Me Hearties!
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Old 08-08-08, 10:50 AM
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Originally Posted by bhop
I think maybe your title is wrong.. to impair would imply that it's made your walking more difficult, while you say it's less difficult and more natural.
Actually I think the title is correct - I find walking easier since I have NOT ridden for a week now.
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Old 08-08-08, 11:00 AM
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Originally Posted by hankbrandenburg
Actually I think the title is correct - I find walking easier since I have NOT ridden for a week now.
I understand what you're saying, but "Impair" means to affect in a negative way. You think walking easier is a bad thing?

either way, no biggie...your post is clear enough, just clarifying the title
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Old 08-08-08, 11:10 AM
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He's saying that his walking was better at the end of a week off the bike. Implying that biking impairs walking and you need a week of no cycling to get your walking back to normal.
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Old 08-08-08, 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by bhop
I understand what you're saying, but "Impair" means to affect in a negative way. You think walking easier is a bad thing?

either way, no biggie...your post is clear enough, just clarifying the title
What he means is that he walks easier now that he has stopped biking for a week. But when he bikes normally, walking is more difficult. Therefore cycling impairs his ability to walk...
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Old 08-08-08, 11:13 AM
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Originally Posted by cooker
He's saying that his walking was better at the end of a week off the bike. Implying that biking impairs walking and you need a week of no cycling to get your walking back to normal.
Thank you
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Old 08-08-08, 11:19 AM
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I'm pretty new to cycling, so I could be way off base here, but it sounds to me like you may not be doing enough stretching.
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Old 08-08-08, 11:26 AM
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I don't notice much difference in my walking during periods of daily riding versus occasional riding since NYC is a walking city and I walk a lot regardless (I don't own a car). However, after a century ride or a multi-day tour such as a camping trip I get the sensation of constant forward motion when I get off the bike and for quite some time afterward. And I dream about riding, too, usually waking up just before crashing into something--not unlike catching yourself "falling". Stairs are hard after that much riding, though not ascending, but rather descending.
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Old 08-08-08, 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by cooker
He's saying that his walking was better at the end of a week off the bike. Implying that biking impairs walking and you need a week of no cycling to get your walking back to normal.
What he means is that he walks easier now that he has stopped biking for a week. But when he bikes normally, walking is more difficult. Therefore cycling impairs his ability to walk...
Ahhhh.. i get it now.. still working on my morning cup of coffee.. heh, heh..
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Old 08-08-08, 12:11 PM
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I haven't noticed it with walking. However, when I've been doing a lot of riding, it feels very awkward to run, especially the first few strides.
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Old 08-08-08, 12:16 PM
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I haven't really noticed anything like that, and I don't stretch at all before or after. The only stretching I do is when I go to TKD class, one or two times a week.
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Old 08-08-08, 12:19 PM
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Impaired my desire to walk, but not ability to.
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Old 08-08-08, 12:20 PM
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I've never noticed cycling affecting my walking, but I am more limber, overall since I started riding.

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Old 08-08-08, 12:36 PM
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Cycle-commuting gave me the aerobic capacity to put some serious hurt into my legs when I played campus rec soccer last summer. I was hobbling for three days after my first game--boy did my wife think that was funny.
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Old 08-08-08, 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by JeffS
Impaired my desire to walk, but not ability to.
I hate walking.
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Old 08-08-08, 06:00 PM
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I love walking too, but rarely get time to. I try to walk to church on Sundays, it's just over a mile so it's a nice short walk.
When I retire I'd like to cycle across the country, but I'd also kind of like to walk some of the long trails like the Appalachian.
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Old 08-08-08, 09:14 PM
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Well, when I first got back in to cycling I was sore for a bit but after that it has never been an issue and I walk a lot at work. I do stretch though, maybe that helps...
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Old 08-08-08, 09:50 PM
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I've become so used to biking that walking sometimes seems very jarring and cumbersome. Sad but true.
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Old 08-08-08, 10:24 PM
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I noticed that a couple years ago; but now, I've been a car-free bike commuter for so long that my body has just absorbed the whole lifestyle. The stretching will likely help -- I do stretch, but not as regularly or in as regimented a fashion as I really should. Pushing 50, y'know.
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Old 08-08-08, 10:50 PM
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haven't noticed a difference. Before i started riding i was an avid runner, so i guess my running ability has been compromised (because i don't run any more) but as for walking.. no haven't noticed a difference.
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Old 08-09-08, 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by hankbrandenburg
I noticed today that walking seems less difficult for me. Not that it was ever "hard" but it seems like my legs are more limber/flexible and walking seems more natural and less labored. Its as if cycling somehow made my legs stiffer and my gait more rigid. Sorry for the vague description; it is hard for me to elaborate on.

My question: has anyone else noticed that cycling affects their walking or is this affliction uniquely mine?
I can only speak for myself here. I couldn't walk at all if it were not for my cycling (which I do
year 'round inside & out) to keep my leg circulation in decent shape.

Cycling is considered great medical therapy for all who can do it
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Old 08-09-08, 10:54 AM
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I wonder if its really an issue of the muscles getting a bit tight... do you stretch out a bit after cycling?
or maybe just do some stretching while watching tv?...
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