You’ve probably heard that both running and cycling are excellent aerobic exercises that can help you improve your cardiovascular health, increase endurance, and burn calories. However, you may be wondering which one is better. Whether you’re trying to decide which activity to take up or simply want to switch up your workout routine, this article can help you find the right fit for your body and interests.
Running
Running is a high-impact exercise that can be hard on the joints and bones. This can be uncomfortable for people with joint problems like osteoarthritis and unhealthy for people with low bone density.
Cycling
Biking is a low-impact exercise that can be easier on the joints and bones than running. This is because your bike carries some of the weight for you, and because it uses different muscles than running does. However, biking doesn’t build as much muscle mass as running. Muscles grow when they work against resistance, and the pedals on a bicycle provide very little resistance.
The good news is that you can modify your biking workout to include short sprints out of the saddle to spike your heart rate and make the exercise harder. This will also engage more of the lower half of your body, helping you develop stronger, more toned legs.
Running also burns more calories per hour than cycling, and it engages a wider range of muscles in the body. You can also adjust your run workout to make it more challenging by increasing your speed or running up an incline.