[Closed] Is cycling your only form of exercise?

Yes - as you, I have less spare time so the other things have gone.

No. In fact I'm not that sure that cycling is much exercise for me. I play football and hockey and am pretty knackered after that, and the next day. Not so for cycling, even with a big day out. Probably need to push myself a bit harder when riding

sweating must play a part.

do you sweat when you swim?

Nope, mostly dinghy sailing these days.

do you sweat when you swim?

oh no, my right arm gets plenty of excercise!

I was, up until last week, playing football and (old man's, touch) rugby. Before the football season started up, was playing tennis with my son.
However, that there tennis seems to have fudged up my heel/achilles, so no more sports that involve running for a month or so as I really do need to be able to stand up when I get out of bed in the morning. Shitty middle age bastard bollocks injury recovery shite.

No. I have a five year old and a two year old. Intensive turbo sessions and three hour rides at threshold are my warm down.

No. In addition to both road and MTB, I also run a lot. There are times when I think that I only cycle to give my legs a break from running. It gets worse in winter; dark nights and rain means no cycling during the week and more running.

@geetee, LOL, I'd forgotten about our 18 month old. Playing with that little bag of energy is knackering.

I'm concious as nickjb has pointed out that my top half and certain muscle groups are withering away with just cycling.

I used to do a lot of running as well as cycling, but with IT band problems this stopped several years ago and pretty much all I do is cycle.

Having been doing a fair amount of work in the garden recently, I have realised how 'unconditioned' I now am. My legs are OK (for cycling), but core strength is very low compared to what it used to be, as is my upper body strength.

There's a gym opened up near me that's very reasonable so I keep debating joining that for a bit of all round conditioning. Alternatively I'll just carry on digging the garden over once a week - seems to work most muscle groups!!

was about to say walk a fair bit but sweat test rules that out.
In winter, curling as sport although don't (usually!) sweat. Good workout though!

Not much else, I do some weight training and that's about it. I'm doing Tough Mudder next may though so I should probably start running again. Problem is, after a run my back, hips and knees ache for days. Is that just something you get used to/overcome as you run more often?

Yes, it is really. I dinghy sail most weekends in the summer and do a bit of indoor climbing and running but it's mostly bikes and I will always skip one of the others if a good ride is in the offing. It does mean my climbing suffers.

I've been training for a Tough Mudder so been doing more running and weights type stuff recently but I much prefer cycling as my exercise of choice.

Morris dancing is quite a good workout and does not get in the way of the cycling. But like cycling it involves getting out, wearing funny clothes, and, sometimes, lashings of beer. I feel nicely done in by both activities.

For years, riding to/from work (5 miles per day in total) has been pretty much my only exercise, other than having a job where I'm on my feet a lot and general walking about to get places.

I supplemented that with occasional weekend bike rides (often just 14 per year), as I have two young kids plus my job means too many weekends spent working at home and I'm terrible at motivating myself. This seemed to keep me ticking over, and I'm naturally skinny so could still knock out decent length MTB rides with hills, like Kielder 100, though not quickly.

Earlier this year, we started to do a Metafit session at the end of the day on Friday and [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/running-advice-new-runner-speed-or-length ]4 weeks ago I started running three times a week[/url]. I'm already noticing the difference this has made to my general fitness.

My kids are a bit older now, and work's changed a bit, so I'm hoping to get out for weekend rides on a Sunday morning a bit more. I have a cx bike now, which makes local 'easy' off-road rides seem more fun so should make short local rides a bit more attractive.

No.
I do yogurt.

run very occasionally in winter when it is very wet
Do martial arts x3 per week - only sweat at two of them to be fair as one is with my kids.

yes.
and a bit of dog walking, and swimming with the granddaughter.

The odd run in winter, the odd swim in summer, cycling pretty much a constant. No field sports due to dodgy knees but I'm considering one of these regiment fitness programmes in my local park; as with people above, I don't have much core strength these days.

Only running and cycling for me. I bought a road bike at the start of the year and made a conscious decision to stop running for a while and just concentrate on road riding over the summer.

Never, ever again- After going for a gentle run last week in advance of picking it up again for winter, I was totally f**ed after a gentle 25min run. Going to be painful getting back to the standard I was, I think.

I'll definitely be cycling more next summer again but unless I'm injured I'm never going to completely stop the running, just ramp it down slightly.

Worse still, I'm not even that good on the road bike despite devoting a whole summer to nothing but that 😳

I'd like to say it isn't but if I actually look at what I've been doing lately it is really. Like sandwhicheater I also used to do more running, climbing and squash but those have all dropped away this year. And while I'm working from home at the moment I'm not even doing much riding!

I play football once a week in addition to as much cycing as I can get in.

I have heard say that just cycling can shorted the Achilles?

(could be rubbish but a run around weekly gives me a different workout to cycling and is quite fun)

If only I could find an older football league to play in as losing to a group of 20 year olds can be a bit boring after a few years!

Mostly, road or MTB 3 or 4 times a week as well as a fair bit of walking with kids and dog. Would like to do something else, especially in winter but I am not sure what.

Scrabble, dancing and self abuse.

I love a quiet night in.

I run twice a week, mostly trail, and have started racing again, mostly within the trail scene.

Amazed at how quickly my legs recover after a trail marathon compared to a road one!

oh no, my right arm gets plenty of excercise!

well i have to let off steam somehow.

Mostly yes..

No, I Trail Run too, also bob around a swimming pool as well but thats not excersise.

Scrabble, dancing and self abuse.

I love a quiet night in.

Are they real ales?

Yes, but I do mix flavors; road, track and mountain bike. I also have the occasional indoor climbing session and, of course dog walking.

mostly yeah, in winter I do other stuff, run, 5 a side* occasional rubbish attempt at swimming and when I feel fat I'll do a few sets of sit ups and press ups.

But for the most part and certainly when it's nice whether I ride whenever possible.

*would like to do more but get niggling little injuries too often that affect cycling.

I ride and race road so I am way to knackered/ skint to do owt else.

I do something every day, usually at least 2 hours (gym, martial arts, cycling, running, squash)

I have a wife that works shifts and 2 young kids, so have to fit in. Often in gym at 5.15 am

Cycling was my only form of proper exercise (other than walking a couple of miles a day), until someone nicked my bikes. In the meantime I took up running. The first couple of times I felt like I'd gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson, but things have improved. I think I might just carry on, as it's much easier to pop out for a run before work, than go for a ride.

used to play a lot of football, a bit of cricket and a few other sports such as running, swimming, climbing etc...stopped playing cricket about 10 years ago, havent been running for about 3 years, havent played football for over a year etc etc...
started doing karate with the boy 18 months ago but i havent done that for over 6 months now...so cycling it is

I have a wife that works shifts and 2 young kids, so have to fit in.

Crutching is my only form of exercise ATM

Used to swim & plat squash and badminton.
Swimming less due to pool water usually being cold and causing my joints to ache. Pool is now closed indefinitely for major repairs!
Squash. Had to give up for the 3rd and last time due to back/knee problems?
10ml round trip to work x2 a week, sometimes more but after a 12hr night shift it can be an effort 🙄
Badminton. Thinking about going back, season just starting at club I went to.
Work. Manual job and can get a fair sweat up occasionally requiring a change of boiler suit and undies 😉 Lots of stairs carrying tools etc.
MTB at least twice a week. Snowdon, Coed and Gwydyr done last weekend.
Off for a few days but dad is in hospital which has put a dampener on this weeks riding.
Auld guys medical tomorrow am, nae food tonight!
Taking out some newbies tomorrow am.
Dalbeattie for some Hardrock Challenge practice on Thurs and again at the weekend depending on auld mans position.

Just right at this moment With all my aches & pains I'd be happy to pack it all in...... 😐

I've come from a playing football at a half decent standard from the age of 11 to 31, retired from football 3 years ago (now 34) due to hip problem and started road running 3-4 times per week but unfortunately this flares my hip issue up too so I've converted to a MTB as much less stress on the legs.

Regular 50+ mile road rides most Saturdays with random rides when time and mood allow. Doing a lot less MTB than previous years. I'm a home-based freelancer but cycle regularly around town to meetings etc. as quicker than walking or car. Also do a weekly circuits session at the local gym as well as weights, spin and yoga classes. Also regularly use the pool at the gym.

Would love to run again, but not sure my knees would agree.

No, but perhaps if it was, I wouldn't have one arm bigger than the other.

A typical week will be couple of rides and a big swim sat morn whilst youngest in in his lesson. The swimming really helps me as I have joint problems (hypermobility) and perma achy.

It used to be but it started becoming a chore.

Now do gym 5 time a week for exercise and bike for fun. Works better for me that way.

No, I also do something that I laughably describe as "running"

I like to mix it up a bit and do a bit of road mtb and cx but actually run more than cycle these days as like to take part in obstacle course races like tough mudder which is coming up in october. to help with the OCR i also do some body weight exercise and ocasional swim. never go to the gym these days, my exercise is free, but the events are £££

I spend 15-18 hours a week on the bike.Too knackered/not enough time to do anything else!!!

I ride all sorts and commute which probably adds up to 15h per week.

I also do a reasonable amount of hill walking (a couple of times a month), pilates and horse riding. Mainly because these are things my wife and I enjoy together. She rides horses a fair bit so I try and go once a week just so I can keep up on longer/harder/fun stuff.

BillMC - Member
Morris dancing is quite a good workout

I'm a postie so do about 5 miles a day at a fairly high pace(enough to get sweaty anyway) at home I have a 9 year old and a 3 year old who both put the duracell bunny to shame so get plenty of exercise with them.

I crawl into bed most nights!!!!

Nope, as well as mtbing, I do circuit training, x fit, tabata, boot camp and spinning, keeps me occupied when I'm working away..!

No, a spot of running, and the evil that is Concept2 (at work), WaterRower (at home). Maybe chuck some weight around too, but I hate that.

I do some heavy planking every evening. Keeps my core hard and increases my staying power.

Cycling is my main exercise and I'm really missing my daily 25 mile commute. Just sorting a new route that should take me up to a minimum of 12miles and am going to get my power kite out of storage for some upper body work.
I hate runnng and gym work so not too certain on what else to do..

Cycling & 2 year old boy wrangling are my only exercise.
My knees are shot at, one from football in my twenties & one from a nasty bike fall in my forties. 🙁

Totted up what I'm doing each week because of this thread. Commuting, plus running, plus Mefafit comes in at 8 hours per week during term-time. During term-time I'm also on my feet at work for at least 23 hours per week.

My commute is pretty short (10 miles total), so I hit the gym and do crossfit 4 nights a week, and yoga once a week. Crossfit is properly full on, lots of heavy free weights and WODs where you collapse afterwards. It's done a huge amount for my strength and fitness (especially upper body!) and it pays dividends back into my cycling.

Trail/fell running and climbing (hanging around on the climbing forum counts yes?).

Pretty much. I like to walk/hike and have the occasional swim but I hate the gym. Cycling is the number 1 all round aerobic/strength workout I do. As I am now living in central London I need to make a plan as how to excersize more as access to mtb-ing is quite limited.

Used to play Sunday League Football up untill 24 then my knee went bang and I had to give up.
Was running up untill this year when my Achilles went bang. Now that I'm 95% recovered (last physio session next week) my only activities will be cycling and swimming. But at a slower pace.

Two summer's ruined by fractured leg, knee injury and Achilles injury means I need to slow down.

I try and ride mtb when I can, but life gets in the way (work, kids etc).

Gym 5 x per week (whatever I fancy, spinning/body pump/weight session etc), gym is down the road.

Seems to do the trick, but there are women who go to the same gym (who are in their 40's) that do a lot more than that and look like athletes (like the ones on TV). I suppose I must try harder....

Simone

I used to climb rocks and mountains but don't have the time nowadays. Never wanted to run - why bother when God gave us bicycles? Consequently my knees are in pretty good nick so cycling is the only exercise I get, as well as a week of skiing once a year. Luckily the cycling muscles are pretty useful for skiing so that works pretty well. Would do some more ski touring if I had the time. Can't wait to retire.

Cycling has been my only real excericise for a while now, so last week I decided to start playing football on Tuesday evenings.

2nd week into it last night and I have seriously pulled my groin (2 minutes in)

I feel like cycling has actually weakened me in certain areas as a pull like that has never happened before, ****ing hurts.