Why not bike instead of run on easy days?

Summer of 2017 I was bike commuting for a total of ~45 mpw and running 55-65 mpw and was much fitter than when I was only doing the running side of that equation.

Currently trying to work my way back up to that level of running mileage after a foot injury and supplementing with 40-45 minutes on the bike trainer in the morning and doing my runs in the evening.

bump

this is true. muscles that are worked more develop more mitochondria (this is why muscle cells have significantly higher numbers of mitochondria than, for example, bone cells). thus, if you are doing exercise that primary strengthens arm muscles, ie swimming, yes, aerobic fitness is likely to improve, but those specific muscles will see gains on the cellular level. Whereas if the majority of training is running, recruiting leg muscles, these muscles are more likely to 'improve' on the cellular level with increased mitochondrion numbers. More mitochondria= higher rates of cellular respiration= more ATP= more /better/ faster work able to be done

Love how someone ask this question at least once a month on here. Like they think they've found some secret that biking instead of running will make them a better runner.

Subway Surfers wrote:

Many elites including East Africans use the spin bike more than what is reported.

As do many American elites.

I raced bikes for 10 years before I came back to running. I was decent runner so I wouldn’t say I was a hobby jogger, but I ran 2:36 off of 1 year of 30-40 mpw. I was doing 5-8 hours per week of training.

I coached few cyclists this past year to 2:40 and 2:49 on relatively low mileage. It’s possible. Neither of the cyclists were previously amazing runners, but both are good athletes.

It took both of them approximately 2-3 years of running 30-50mpw. Which is about 5-6 hours per week. There we’re a few injuries and hiccups along the way, but I would predict they both run about 10 minutes faster in the next 1-2 years if they continue training.

If you're not a professional runner, then it's fine to cross-train.

If it's snowing or raining outside, then I think using the bike is ok. You are burning calories and getting your heartrate up.

You can also watch a movie indoors if you're bored.

I bike quite a bit, and if I am doing a lot of cycling, I find my running cadence decreases significantly and I really have to focus on getting my foot strike count up.

My job is biking. Makes my hip flexors and other things tight that limits my mobility for running

facts and reason wrote:

If you're not a professional runner, then it's fine to cross-train.

If it's snowing or raining outside, then I think using the bike is ok. You are burning calories and getting your heartrate up.

You can also watch a movie indoors if you're bored.

Opposite. Running in the rain isn't so bad. Riding a bike in the rain sucks!

I don't think watching a movie constitutes training, but it is important to rest sometimes.

The biggest factor in aerobic fitness is the heart. The heart does not know whether you are cycling or running. Only cycling would of course lead to lack of running-specific muscular fitness, but if you are doing quality running several days a week with significant volume, then doing easy cycling rather than easy running on the other days is not going to make a big difference for a 5km or shorter I believe. Some may be better off with/prefee the cycling, some the running. The longer the event, the more important volume is, and the closer easy running is to one's actual speed, so it may be more significant then.

Of course doing more quality running instead of or alongside your cycling if you can handle it will be much more beneficial for your running.

I was able to get down to the 2:40's on only 3-4 hours a week after 8 months

bs detection service wrote:

LateRunnerPhil wrote:

I just told you - mitochondria are developed in specific muscles. Biking primarily uses quads and glute contraction to produce force, running the hamstrings and calves. Or do you also think that swimming with a pull buoy is gonna help you build mitochondria in your legs that make you a faster runner? No, but it will make you fitter, work your upper body and burn calories (=indirect benefits that can make you a better runner).

So now you're an expert on mitochondria too? Then explain to us what "building mitchondria" actually means?

And explain the difference in how specific muscles are used in running vs cycling in terms of force production and angle of pennation.

+1 lmao

Why have easy days at all? Why not just rest? What evidence is there that "light" exercise between hard sessions has any benefit?

increases aerobic threshold

Pedal pedal pedal wrote:

I bike quite a bit, and if I am doing a lot of cycling, I find my running cadence decreases significantly and I really have to focus on getting my foot strike count up.

Interestingly, I had the opposite effect. I was on the bike/elliptical/pool for three months of no running due to a very gnarly stress fracture and since I've recently started getting into low mileage (40ish) weeks, my cadence has bumped from 165 to 172 now over the course of 6 milers.

Listen to your body and what’s works best for you. In this website you are going to find a lot of arm chair coach wanna be’s giving you “advise”. For your information, I’ve been doing that for at least 10 years now, only two workouts per week, 1k repeats or 400’s and another day back and forth or Farrell’s, the other 4 days I just cycle and my times are consistently in the mid 17’s to high 18 minutes for the 5 k and between 38-39 for the 20k, couple of high 37’s, and I’m in my mid 50’s. But that’s just me. My advise? Just give it a try and see if it works, if it doesn’t then discard it.

Good luck !

Subway Surfers wrote:

Many elites including East Africans use the spin bike more than what is reported.

They use the EPO too.

No need to discuss the science of it. Look at the race results for triathletes in road races.

I don't know about the very top triathletes, but I imagine they're not top runners, and not very close, either. There might be a couple. List them if you want to make yourself think you're smart.

I know a guy who trains for all 3 legs of a triathlon like crazy. He can't break 17 in a 5k. He used to be a pretty good local runner, too.

Just run.