Riding a bike- conditioning

[STGTBOXER]

Does and can riding a bike help with conditioning related to boxing?

[JagOfTroy]

I find that the cardio aspect of biking can help..

But I'm old fashion and find that I get a better workout by doing roadwork.
Only time I would really use a bicycle is if my knees/shins are getting sore just to switch it up and give them time to rest from pounding on the concrete.

[El Puma]

Do both

[TheStraightLeft]

Riding a bike is easier on your knees in the long term though, right?

[El Puma]

Riding a bike is easier on your knees in the long term though, right?Much more and evidence points to possibly being more beneficial when you consider the leg power in cycling required, would carry over into boxing.





RE: What's tougher?: running vs. cycling 5/27/2004 4:44AM - in reply to The Fixer ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) Reply ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) | Return to Index ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) | Report Post ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) Interesting (obviously unresolvable) question.

I'll offer a few thoughts, mostly based on previous comments. As background I'm an average club runner and have been an average club cyclist. My wife was a pretty fair collegiate distance runner, took to cycling in grad school and for the last several years has been ranked in the top 10 in the USA. She is obviously much more interesting to discuss than I!

First off, her cycling talent is 100X greater than her running talent. But for coincidences, she could have gone her whole life and never discovered that. That is the same for many individuals and many sports.

Further to this, she is technically and tactically very good. She can drop like a stone on descents, whips through corners and touches the brakes less than anyone I've ridden with. Tactically, well that's a longer discussion which wouldn't be of much interest here.

To race professionally at the highest level she has had to quit her old job (scientist). In the Winter she routinely spends at least 35 hours/week in the saddle. Most of the rest of the time she is either eating or sleeping, I kid you not.

She almost never injured as a runner, but as a pro-cyclist averages about one serious crash/year, along with several others which would make me feel pretty sorry for myself. 5 collar bones, many ribs, several concussions, we buy road rash dressing in bulk, you get the (not pretty) picture.

She is a specialist climber, 5'5", 115 lbs, scrawny as a rat BUT her thighs (and to a lesser extent calfs) are freakin' unbelievably muscular. She naturally has buff pipes for arms, but most cyclists strive for the Tyrannosaurus rex body type (think about it).

Her oxygen transfer is off the scale, but interestingly her lactate clearance is not and neither is her max heart rate. Her resting heart rate fluctuates from 35-45 depending on her level of fatigue.

Generally I find that runners look down on and underestimate the fitness (mental and physical) of cyclists more than the other way round.

Go cheer for her at the World Cup race in Montreal this w/e and Liberty Classic in Philly next w/e.

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[TheStraightLeft]

My knees aren't bad but they're not in the best condition either, plus I hate roadwork with a vengeance. Would much rather get on a bike and cycle through a few suburbs and back.

[El Puma]

My knees aren't bad but they're not in the best condition either, plus I hate roadwork with a vengeance. Would much rather get on a bike and cycle through a few suburbs and back. I have a trek 1000 that I push like I was Lance Armstrong. I also have NIke Running shoes with the Ipod+ and I fly (for a little bit) like I was Steve Prefontaine


Kb swings, jumping rope and burpees on top of the bag work makes me a beast> Cross Training is key and if one road closes, other paths (workouts) will always be open to improve one's cardio.:good



Key is, how much effort you put out.

[TheStraightLeft]

I really despise the jump rope as well. The thing is, roadwork and jump ropes are, traditionally, ingrained as part of the boxing training staple though.

[JagOfTroy]

Kb swings, jumping rope and burpees on top of the bag work makes me a beast> Cross Training is key and if one road closes, other paths (workouts) will always be open to improve one's cardio.:good



Key is, how much effort you put out.

Right on bro. :good

What it comes down to in the end is what works best for you but variety will always give you the best gains from my own experience.

So I say do it all! :happy

[GNARL]

Running is better for boxing. Swimming would be second and biking last. Running is a natural action and your hips are moving through a good range of motion. Biking limits your range of motion, shortens your hip flexors, lengthens your glutes, and takes longer and harder to receive as much benefit. The motion of running translates better into boxing.

[STGTBOXER]

I do a decent amount of running every week at least 20 miles every 6 days. I just need to mix it up and i'm curious if I could ease off running for a bit and ride a bike instead.

[thejokerswild]

it's good to mix it up.

I play tennis with my mates because (firstly becoze its fun) i noticed it challanges your balance and footwork, practise body movements. GAME theory and it gets me really tired too so suppose a little endurance.

I take the dog for a run and stop off by a park to throw the ball around. Mix in some sprints and jumping around and you've got yourself a some pretty good exercise. Shoot some hoops and put some heart into the exercise. Just keep it real.

Basically if you can keep up a good sensible attitude to stressing out your body then do what you want.

[Haymakers]

I think it is good to do both bicycle and roadwork, riding hills with the gears on the bike on hard really builds you legs up with endurance, but always make sure you are getting your roadwork in