Cycling v Running
For quite a few years I took running quite seriously. I was a member of the school cross country team run by two teachers who had a super-enthusiastic approach to cross country; (an enthusiasm which was rarely shared by anyone else), but nevertheless it meant the school (Bradford Grammar) was invariably the best in the country at cross country. The training strategy was nice and simple – make people run a lot and you would get good results. I never excelled at cross country. I distinctly remember coming last in a race; at which point I soon faded out. At the time, I blamed the genes; I was never going to make a good runner so I forsook running around muddy fields to other pursuits more appealing to a teenager.
Several year later, I temporarily got back into running. But it lead to quite a bad knee injury which lasted for quite a few years. When the knee finally cleared up, I went back to the bicycle and I’ve never really run since.
Cycling v Running
Injury
I’ve lost count of people who say running is harder on the knees. Many people switch to cycling after being frustrated with some running injury. Running has a higher impact on joints and a greater tendency to cause injury. Apart from swimming, cycling is often the one form of exercise people can still manage when they are carrying injury niggles.
Cycling can still cause knee and other knee injury problems. (especially, if you have wrong saddle height, bike position). But, overall, it is easier on the knees.
Cost
Running is probably the cheapest sport you can do. There’s only so much you can spend on running shoes, for a few hundred pounds you can have the same equipment as the pros. If you’re not a fast runner, you can’t start blaming your equipment, like you might with cycling.
Cycling is very different; there is always this irritating feeling that if only we spend more money we will go quicker. And to some extent it is true. If we buy some carbon fibre saddle for £300, it will shave a few seconds off our times.
Cycling could be cheap. (see: cost per mile of cycling). But, in practise it isn’t. If you want to compete at a high level, you are looking at £5,000 for a top of the range road bike. Then if you do a time trial, you need another bike. Then there are countless accessories from shoes, helmets, pedals, speedometers, power-meters to wind tunnel testing. The list is endless. Cycling is an expensive hobby. If you are really disciplined, you will buy a good value £1,000 bike and make it last for 20 years, avoiding all expensive accessories and gimmicks. But, I don’t know too many cyclists who can avoid the temptation to spend money in the hope it might make them faster.
Which Looks Best?
This is a mute point. You may think of cycling as the height of Italian chic or you may think cycling involves the most ridiculous clothes man has ever worn. To be fair, you don’t see too many ‘let’s all dress up as santa cycle rides’
Enjoyment.
Sometimes when cycling on a A-road and I’ve just been cut up by some juggernaught, I yearn to be a runner – free to run around the fells and unknown track. One thing I liked about running was the freedom to go pretty much anywhere you wanted to. You could escape civilisation and re-find the wilderness. In road cycling, you are limited to sharing the road with people fixated on getting to their destination in the minimum available time.
Running through Christ Church Meadow
When you’re running, you don’t get someone beeping you because you are slightly more than one foot away from the edge of the path, but cycling you do.
But, then on the other hand, when I used to run, I used to yearn to have a bicycle so I could go beyond the usual runs around town. With a bike, you have the freedom to see a much bigger range of scenery and countryside. A bicycle is one of the best ways to see the countryside. You can travel much further than on your feet, but you don’t have to look through car windscreen.
UK roads may look intimidating to cycle on (I would imagine that is main reason people avoid cycling in UK) But, actually once you get on it’s not that bad. Some quiet country lanes are really quite enjoyable.
Speed
Cycling gives something that running never can – speed. I enjoy speeding down hills at 50mph. I enjoy racing at 30mph. It’s just fun. When you’re used to that speed, jogging seems painfully slow. With running there is no break, no let up. It’s hard to coast down a hill. With cycling, you can tuck in behind people who are much better than you and save 25% of your energy. Even when you’re tired you can still enjoy freewheeling down hills.
Mechanicals
With running, you may get a dodgy knee, but at least you don’t have to contend with broken chains, double punctures, squeaky noises and gears which won’t align properly no matter how often you hit them with an allen key.. There have been quite a few times when you curse that third puncture in three days, when you really wouldn’t mind the simplicity of running.
Beauty of the Bike
But, on the other hand, when a bike works well it has a beauty and enjoyment of it’s own. Yes, you have to maintain it. But, you can have pride in the smooth operation of a clean, well set up machine. A bike is still a marvellous invention. There is a beauty and simplicity to the design, and you can get a bike to match your personality.
You can’t really show off your new trainers, but you can show off your new Bianchi Dura Ace. Even if you’re a rubbish cyclist, you can still look the part.
Shaving of Legs.
Being a cyclist gives you a passport into all kinds of strange customs. The justification to shave your legs may or may not be an advantage of cycling, I guess it depends on your point of view..
Cycling and Running
Some people actually manage to do both running and cycling. The problem I find is that if I go running, I get stiff muscles because they are so unused to it. So I never cycle and so I always have poor running muscles.
The triathletes I know seem to spend more time training on the bike than running. Presumably because cycling is better for that aerobic / endurance training.
Cross Training. Running can have a good degree of cross training – useful for winter months in keeping you fit. Because the muscle groups used are different, there is a limit to how much you want to do.
What do you think running v cycling? or can you really enjoy both?
Cycle to the base of the hills, fell run, cycle home
I like doing both. One big advantage of running is being able to do it anywhere, even when you’re travelling. You can always pack your running shoes, but the bike is harder to fit in your suitcase!
I don’t cycle competitively, though, but I do quite a few running races. Bike races are too intimidating! Cycling is useful training for running, but I don’t think the opposite is so true.
Love cycling and running. Hate shin splints!
Nice article!
Interesting post. I was a mad keen runner until about 5 years ago when I got the obligatory long term injury and took up cycling. I’m now a mad keen cyclist who keeps thinking ‘I must start running again’ but never do, I’ve just got more and more into cycling, first time trials, then audaxes, now I’m contemplating a 24 hour TT next year!
You don’t have to spend a fortune on bikes. I have one bike which I adapt for TTs with tri bars, adjustable stem and secondhand wheels, I’m sure I’d go faster with the full monty but, really, who cares? I also save loads of money by commuting on it.
There are things I miss about running, the ability to go anywhere, parks, footpaths, etc., the freedom, the fact you can daydream and run on autopilot – I do that a bit while cycling but not much, I’d crash! But you can go further on a bike (obviously) and it is fun whooshing downhill or even along a dual carraigeway at 7 o’clock on sunday morning.
Whenever I see someone out jogging / running I think “Now there’s someone in need of a bike …”
Correction: ‘mute’ should be ‘moot’
I’ve never really found running that easy or enjoyable. When I was kid doing cross-country or track running I often found that it was a struggle to keep going. Cyclng was to the contrary. I’ve always felt at home on a bike, I’ve always felt that I could just go on all day long, and (perhaps most importantly) I’ve always loved it.
Hi T
I am permanently struggling with a fairly immovable weight problem, so for me, running is a no-no. Although I’m reasonably fit, that extra weight plays havoc with my knees and back.
On the bike though, I’m as fast, lithe, fit and supple as you are (well….in my head anyway!!)
Apart from one or two minor spills, I’ve managed to do about 3000 miles a year with no injuries on the bike, so I’d always vote for cycling!
I’ve always been a cyclist but at school hated long distance running. Six months ago I wanted to shift some weight and thought I’d give running a go. I’m 37 so was worried about injuries on my old joints but so far it’s been great for me. Pulled me into shape more than cycling has managed the last few years.
I commute by bike and then generally alternate a run or a training ride most days of the week. The two activities seem to complement each other really well for me. I’m not even riding with a club these days never mind competing though so not sure about what effect I would see on my cycling performance if I really studied my times but superficially at least it all feels positive.
Hi Tejvan
I really enjoy both running and cycling. I nearly gave up running as quickly as I was starting to enjoy it because of knee / ankle problems. This was solved by going to a proper running shop for a gait analysis which lead to the right running shoes. It made all the difference for me – so please don’t give up on running unless you have already had a gait analysis yourself!
You’re spot-on with much of what you say. I reckon the two sports compliment each other and they’re valid for different reasons. I know I can only speak for myself here but cycling is, amongst other things, great for reflecting on things, mulling things over. Running on the other hand, leads to inspired ideas and very imaginative thoughts. The “Runner’s High” is something else. Is there a “Cyclist’s High”?
You’re also right about the cost difference. Having said that, I’ve had 3 punctures this year and thought I was starting to spend too much on cycling unnecessarily (new tube -v- patch).
Your excellent blog continues!
Doug.
http://ramblingsofdoug.blogspot.com/2011/02/reasons-to-cycle.html
http://ramblingsofdoug.blogspot.com/2010/11/reasons-to-run.html
Used to run fairly frequently a few years back but now it feels like a phase that I grew tired of. Nowadays it’s a lot harder to motivate myself to put on the running shoes for a half hour jog, than route plan and gear up for a half day bike outing. Injury-wise both disciplines have brought me problems. Who knows whether there will be more running than cycling in my future?
Hi Nasir, nice to hear from you. Yes, I used to go off to Heaton woods to run would have been 15-20 years ago. Good point about running technique. It also depends on your constitution to a large extent – some people with good technique and strong physique can run all year.
I’m a regular reader of your blog though I’ve never commented before.
I live over the road from your old school and still see one of the teachers you refer to. By heck… he’s still filthy fit.
They don’t seem to do it much nowadays, but 15-20 years ago, it was a common site to see them lead a group of boys into Heaton Woods for cross-country running.
I do both. I run and cycle, though I prefer cycling. Running can be hard on the joints, but I find it’s all about getting the technique right. A low impact, springy running rhythm helps eliminate most injuries at bay.