Would adding cycling to my routine improve my running fitness?

I don't like using it for recovery. It's interesting workout if you're looking to build strength however. Whenever I go on the bike in order to get my heart rate up to the proper area I need to work my legs hard enough that they have absolutely no life the next day. I had to cross train over the summer exclusively on the bike and I was quite underdeveloped by the time cross rolled around.

All in all, good only in the circumstance that you want to build strength while not beating up on your legs. Imo not great for recovery.

No.

If you are fatigued or injured it is a good way to get some aerobic exercise without the pounding.

It does work different muscles and is certainly not a replacement.

But if you are feeling tired from pouring on the miles, then yes, this will help.

cycling8 wrote:

dorian concept wrote:

I really do not think so.

Swimming might help. It's more aerobically challenging than cycling and so easy on the body that it can actually help with running recovery.

Ok swimming it is. I just thought pumping my heart a 3rd time in a day at night would benefit it no matter the exercise. Is the elliptical is better?

What is LRC coming to? We're on the second page of this thread and nobody's brought up the best way of pumping the heart in aerobic exercise at night? Sheesh

Uh duh wrote:

cycling8 wrote:

Ok swimming it is. I just thought pumping my heart a 3rd time in a day at night would benefit it no matter the exercise. Is the elliptical is better?

What is LRC coming to? We're on the second page of this thread and nobody's brought up the best way of pumping the heart in aerobic exercise at night? Sheesh

Are you suggesting some late night cross training? With a partner I'm assuming;)

My friend, who's a national mountain running champion, doesn't run on Sundays but does 60-70miles of very hilly and fast cycling instead.

Uh duh wrote:

cycling8 wrote:

Ok swimming it is. I just thought pumping my heart a 3rd time in a day at night would benefit it no matter the exercise. Is the elliptical is better?

What is LRC coming to? We're on the second page of this thread and nobody's brought up the best way of pumping the heart in aerobic exercise at night? Sheesh

Still trying to figure out how his heart only pumps 3 times a day. Must have the heart of a whale or something.

HonestThief wrote:

Uh duh wrote:

What is LRC coming to? We're on the second page of this thread and nobody's brought up the best way of pumping the heart in aerobic exercise at night? Sheesh

Are you suggesting some late night cross training? With a partner I'm assuming;)

You forget, this is the LRC, the only partners any of these folks will be night training with is the palm twins.

you forget your location wrote:

HonestThief wrote:

Are you suggesting some late night cross training? With a partner I'm assuming;)

You forget, this is the LRC, the only partners any of these folks will be night training with is the palm twins.

Not even two hands, one hand. One palm. The palm.

I think cycling is a good idea for all runners from an injury prevention perspective.

1. Running is hamstring dominant, cycling is quad dominant

2. Runners are often internally rotated at the hips, cyclists are often externally rotated at the hips

I think it could significantly decrease the chance of developing knee problems