Thanks for the responses everyone. I realise the question may have seemed a bit silly to some of you, but thing is I don't "race" on my ride (I often stop for a quick breather... it is a hilly route though), and I'm not pushing near as much extra weight as some of you (65lb load?! yikes!), but I guess even a gentle ride would count.

Swoop,

I'm positive that if you keep riding, you will see changes in your fitness more and more.

:beer:

If you keep doing it, I think you'll find you're stopping less too.

Mine is definitely exercise. And I really notice it when I don't do it too.

Ellie

Hehe! Yep, me too! I start to get a little more, "character" around my waistline!

:D

It better be...after all that effort!

Of course, it is.
Corsaire

45km with 480m of climbing @+27kph, 3 days per week, sounds like exercise to me. 28miles, 1575feet @16.8 for non metric folk.:D

CHEERS.

Mark

I was treated for Lymphoma earlier this year. Started commuting 5 fairly flat miles to work a few weeks back. First day was gaspy sweaty, got off and walked twice. Took 40 mins. Last night I screamed home (ok maybe not screamed but it. only took 20 mins). So heck yes it's great exercise.

and OBTW, I love the way Lance rides, huge inspiration to me, but I think he's cluto in the sigificant other dept....not that you asked... :D

I guess I am in the minority. I don't count cycling time as exercise. Technically it is I suppose but I don't log it, no particular planning takes place for it, rides are not structured into workouts, rides don't generally have a goal (other than moving from place to place). For example I don't do intervals, LT rides, sprints. If I look for a hill it is generally to zoom down it rather than to mash or spin up it. I do have some drills I use to improve pedal stroke, but I don't use them consistently. I am careful not to hammer too much on a rest day from another workout.

I guess I just ride for the fun of it and get my exercise elsewhere.

Dan

Do I consider my commute as exercise? Actually I don't give it much thought but I hope it is, because other then a little cross country skiing in the winter I don't get much of any other excersize.

As with everyone else,the answer is "Yes" would you expect anything else?.

by the way my legs feel right now, yes..

:)

Def:To use repeatedly in order to strengthen or develop."

Maybe the question was whether you consider your commute to be exercise. While some may not consider it to be exercise I certainly think that it is.

My favorite thing about my commute is a friend also commutes and every Friday we go out for lunch and do a 10 mile ride, stopping at a deli for a sandwitch and then stopping in a park...

It is a plesant break and a way to get the proper mindset for the weekend...

Oh yea, we usually kick it up a notch on a few streets :)

I do find that the commute, albeit slower than my weekend ride, does help keep the fat off...

considering I lost 20 pounds from the beginning of august just from commuting with my bike to school, while still eating like a pig. YES my commute is an exercise. but i don't consider it as an exercise, just a way of my new life.

Exercixe?
 

Definitely yes. I'm 63 & commute almost daily. My doctor (who is about my age) agrees & says I'm in better shape than he is. I had a abdominal surgery in February & was able to do some slow riding around my neighborhood beginning on day four. For about 3 weeks I rode my wife's mixte frame 10 speed with a Schwinn "pillow" type saddle on it. (Springs are your friend when on the mend) My surgeon said I made a really fast recovery & he was going to recommend cycling to anyone who had the guts to try it. Don

Very impressive. I think it is remarkable that you are so active and have such a great attitude. It is unfortunate the way that most people perceive age in this country. You are doing more physical activity than most 8th graders. This country is getting fatter and lazier by the day. Obviously that applies to hardly anyone in this forum, but people here are the exception to the rule.

Most people lay around and complain after surgery, while you seek the bike. That is awesome. My theory on exercise is that if you do something you are better than someone that does nothing. Most people in the USA do NOTHING . Statistics and the clientel at your local buffet will prove that.

I have never had a problem with weight but I have alway had a problem with physical laziness. I am 34 yrs old, 6'2" and 158 lbs. Last Christmas I was pushing 200lbs. I was just sitting in front of a computer all day and doing nothing. While some may look at my current measures as dangerously light, it is my natural weight. I weighed less than that when I graduated from high school.

I have eaten nothing but low fat since Feb. 2003 and have biked nearly every day since Aug '03. I hit my ideal weight strictly through diet but the 1000+ miles I have logged on the bike has helped me when looking in the mirror. :D

I'm not here to blow my horn. I am here to blow the horn of physical activity. Commuting to Work is physical activity and should be applauded. It doesn't matter if you consider it exercise or not. The fact is that you are better off for it.

Well said!

I do.. Sometimes I'll even time it and consider it a 10 mile time trial.

There's no difference from biking to work than spending 30-40 minutes in a spin class in a gym. (Except that it is 100 times more fun to be actually biking than spinning in place :) )

Jay

I don't consider it exercise, but my body does.

You better believe it's exercise! It's 40 minutes out of my day, and probably the fastest ride I do all day.

If others can consider 10 minutes of gardening to be exercise anything more than that on my bicycle can also be considered exercise.

Of course, that's not usually all I do . . . .