Running vs cycling – which physical activity is better?

Do you finally want to change something in your life and start taking care of your health and body? If so, physical activity will be essential here. The most popular among beginners (but not only them) are running and… cycling! No special skills are needed for both activities. After all, you know how to run, and on a bicycle, you probably learned to ride when you were a small child. 

However, which will be better? Is running better than biking or is biking better than running? 

Running or cycling, that is the question. 

In Hamlet we don’t get the answer to the question “to be or not to be”. But don’t be afraid that is not the case here. To the questions adobe, you will receive clear and helpful answers 🙂 

Running vs Cycling – calories 

I am convinced of the fact that if you are thinking about which physical activity to choose, the first thing that comes to your mind is calories.

“I want to lose weight, so I have to choose a sport that burns more calories”.

Before I get to the calorie question, I must remind you that physical activity alone is not enough. You still need to introduce a proper diet into your life. This combination (activity and diet) will only begin to produce results. Running or cycling and then eating calorie-dense meals won’t do anything. 

Well, let’s move on to burning calories. 

It is said that running is what burns more calories. So is running better than biking? It’s not entirely true After all, how many calories you burn during physical activity depends on your commitment. 

The conclusion? If you’re wondering what’s better for burning calories cycling or running – choose the sport you like more and know you’ll put more effort into training and it will give you more satisfaction. 

Cycling or running – which sport improves your condition? 

Another round – biking vs running. This time in terms of improving your fitness. In this case, there is no winner. One thing is certain, if you start doing sports then your fitness will improve after just a few weeks. Cycling and running are not only good for fitness but also for your health. 

Biking vs running – what is cheaper? 

Not everyone wants to spend a lot of money on sports equipment. However, what you must have?

Running – you need to keep in mind to buy the right running shoes, which can cost up to several hundred dollars. Finding the right shirt and shorts won’t be difficult. Unless you want to bet on professional sportswear, then you need to be prepared to spend a dozen dollars.

Biking – in this case, you need to buy…a bicycle. WOW! I certainly shocked you. Well, unless you already have your vehicle on two wheels, then things are different. However, you need to remember that a bicycle sometimes needs repair or maintenance. You also can’t do without a helmet and the right accessories. 

“So…it seems that running and cycling are no different? There is no better or worse option”

Hold your horses. Maybe these activities are similar when it comes to improving fitness and burning calories. However, I am about to show you the juxtaposition of the two sports and then you will know which sport is more for you and better in your opinion. 

Running vs cycling – juxtaposition

Involvement of different parts of the body 

Running – engages and develops virtually the entire body. This sport strengthens not only the legs but also the abdomen, back, and arms. 

Biking – mainly engages the legs (calves, thighs) and buttocks. The upper body does not take an active part during cycling. 

Weather 

Running – when the weather outside is harsh for most runners it is not an obstacle. They put on the right attire and head out for their workout. With well-fitting and professional shoes, you can run on mud, rocks, or sand. 

Biking – when the weather outside is harsh, it is difficult to ride a bicycle – possible but difficult. It is certain that in difficult conditions the pace will drop off rapidly. You can’t ride on sand, and mountainous terrain means more danger of losing balance and falling. 

The place to practice sports 

Running – you can run wherever you want and on whatever surface you want. Asphalt, grass, sand, mud? For a runner, nothing is terrible. 

Biking – the same cannot be said for cycling. You need to choose routes that have concrete streets on which you can comfortably ride without worry. 

Variety in training 

Running – while running, you can vary the route every time you want. Add jumps, and run up and down stairs.

Biking – when choosing a bicycle, you can only…pedal ahead. You have to pay attention to where you are going and look ahead. Admiring the scenery you will have to put off until later.

Body weight 

Running – if your BMI is normal you can run without any problem. You don’t have to worry about putting too much stress on your knee joints. If you are overweight you need to watch yourself to avoid unwanted injury. 

Biking – does not stress the knee joints when you are overweight. It is this activity that all overweight and obese people should choose.

Distance vs time 

Running – here you can enjoy the area where you live. You are unlikely to go for a veeery long run. You will certainly cover less distance in, say, 2 hours than you would when cycling. 

Biking – do you like to explore new places? Biking will be perfect! With a bike, you will go on a spontaneous trip of 20, 40, 60 km, or more!

Cycling and running – disadvantages 

Everyone says that sport is healthy. This is true, but everything has its disadvantages. 

Running

• If you are overweight, give up running, as it can put a strain on your knee joints, 
• Running requires learning proper technique – without this, you will tire more, and what’s more, you can lead to injury 
• Injuries – by running you can get injured. The most vulnerable are: the knees, ankle joints, spine, feet, and Achilles tendon. 

Biking 

• Cycling just like running requires proper technique. 
• You need to guard your property i.e. your bicycle. If you leave it somewhere it can be stolen, in which case you will again have to spend money on another bike. 
• On a bicycle, you are limited when it comes to choosing your route. You will ride only on designated paths. Moreover, the type of bike is important – a city bike will be suitable for riding on flat terrain. An all-terrain bike will be wasted in the city. It is rare to own two types of bicycles. 

Cycling or running or maybe cycling and running 

We keep talking about choosing between one physical activity or another. However, nothing prevents you from including both sports in your training. One day you can go for a bike ride and the next for a jog along the paths in the park. 

As you can see, you don’t have to choose. I think it’s even better to introduce different elements and add variety to your training so you don’t get bored 🙂

Running vs cycling – summary 

With all the information gathered above, you can get lost. Therefore, I have a summary for you!

Choose running if: you want to engage your whole body during your workout when you want to exercise regardless of the weather and location.

Choose cycling if: you are overweight and don’t want to put stress on your knee joints, you want to go on a long-distance trip, or you want to live an Eco-friendly lifestyle. 

Is cycling better than running or is running better than biking? With the information gathered above, decide what is better and more beneficial for your body. 

Or maybe you won’t choose between running and cycling? However, your preferences are the key. Choose a sport that you enjoy more and know will give you joy and satisfaction.