Cycling VS Running

The debate between running and cycling as a form of cardio continues on. Obviously at Stradalli Cycle we willbe a little bias because we sell full carbon bikes and believe it is the best form of exercise you can do not only from a health standpoint but for enjoyment as well because cycling is a fun recreational activity. However, after talking with several trainers, professional athletes in MMA as well as other sports and several customers who work out on a daily basis here is what we have found:

It is important to note that both exercises are great forms of cardio; they strengthen the heart and build leg muscles. Both exercises will help you to lose weight, maintain your weight and improve your overall health.

Losing Weight: Both are great forms of cardio to lose weight. Burning calories will be based on your weight, how fast you are going and more. Running does burn more calories in the same period of time. However, that is due to the fact that you are supporting your entire body’s weight. The question is what are you more likely to complete on a daily basis, running for a full 40 minutes or going for a bike ride for an hour?

Convenience: Running enthusiasts will say that going for a jog in the morning is cheaper than buying a full carbon fiber road bike. While that’s true you also have to look at what form of cardio you are most likely to stick with. Riding your bike is a great form of exercise but it can also be done as a recreational activity as well as an alternate method of transportation to and from work.

Strength and Endurance: Cycling allows you to go longer than running because you are not beating up your body as much. When you run you are supporting your entire body’s weight with your legs and that puts major strain on your lower back, knees and joints. Ever have a shin splint?

Again running is still better than doing nothing and if it is your only means of exercise then it is a great form of cardio, you will lose weight and get healthier. But when comparing the two, many pro athletes prefer training on bikes because they get many similar advantages that you receive from going for a run but less wear and tear on your body.

Another note: While you may be tempted to go with a bike you find in a retail store understand that you are missing out on true value. If you love riding you will want to upgrade and now you have a bike that you cannot get a good return on. If you start with a full carbon fiber road bicycle from Stradalli you will not only love it but you can get them for a low price because they are sold directly from Stradalli Cycle rather than a 3^rd party distributor or bike shop. Full carbon fibercycles are light weight but more durable to give you a better feel and a far better ride. 

Cycling and MMA Training A Perfect Match

It's not uncommon for athletes to look at other sports to help train, build endurance and improve their abilities in the sport they compete in. Professional Hockey players play basketball not only because it is fun but because the mindset for offense and defense is similar to their sport. Football players use soccer as a way to improve footwork and see the field at a faster pace. Ironically there is one activity that all the pro athletes seem to do to help build endurance, get in their cardio, stay warmed up and keep hamstrings healthy and that is cycling. 

MMA (mixed martial arts) has become one of the fastest growing sports around the world in popularity because it draws many participants as a great way to get in shape and learn self-defense. It doesn't matter if you are training to be a professional or simply looking for a new exercise as a hobby to help you get into better shape. Many MMA instructors highly recommend that you combine MMA training with cycling and here are a few reasons why:

1. Improved Focus: One of the most challenging aspects of MMA is building up your stamina because you have to constantly push yourself past your limits if you want to make real progress. Endurance training is also very challenging to the mind because you can lose interest, get bored or lose focus very easily. Many trainers believe that cycling keeps you focused for cardio because you are moving at a much faster pace and have to be aware of your surroundings. 
2. Building up your body: When you are running you will usually run a route based on the distance you wish to travel. So if your max is 5 miles you will make sure that you get back to your car or front door around that mileage. However, there are no limits when you are cycling because you are getting a great cardio workout but you are also enjoying yourself more so you end up going much further in distance as well as time. Obviously you will go much further on a bike than you would if you were running so the more ground you cover the better not to mention you aren't tearing up your knees with all that running. 
3. Accommodating: Running is exercise, cycling can be a mode of transportation to get to work or anywhere else you need to travel to. When you use your bike for traveling you are saving on gas, not having to worry about heavy traffic, you get a great deal of exercise in each day even if you are in a rush and you feel better too. 
4. Health: If you have knee, back or joint problems that make running more challenging then cycling is the right form of cardio for you because it is a great way to improve your stamina without the wear and tear on your body. Even with the best running shoes on the market you are still putting a huge amount of pressure on your knees, back and joints.

Cycling is the perfect exercise to combine with any other sport because it increases endurance through cardio without increasing the wear and tear on your body. Whether you are training in MMA or any other sport you want to give your body the best treatment to help you succeed. Cycling improves your endurance while also making exercising fun and exciting. If it's good enough for the pros why wouldn't it be good enough for you? 

Special Tip: The best bike to train with is a carbon road bike. The reason is because carbon road bikes are light weight but extremely durable which makes it the perfect piece of exercise equipment.