Bike riding, a good way to lose weight?
I love to bike riding and I noticed it burns quite a few calories so I was wondering is it good? And what areas of the body does it work?
I'm of the mindset that incorporating bike riding into your daily life (job, errands, school) melts off the pounds. When I worked, I rode my bike (2-3 miles one way) and it actually revs me up for work, better than coffee.
Riding around the block for fun is okay but I used to ride to an activity, not as an activity. So, you may have a 4-15 mile roundtrip on bike but you'll have some other kind calorie burning thing going too.
Also, I do Billy Blanks' Basic Training Bootcamp for upper body-it's great! punching, push ups, "speed bag", twisting, etc.
Original Post by eddiepotter:
This is extreme running. They do more flips than we do, because we tend to9 focus more on the running, but when obstacles to come...we flip dive roll cross...
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/363694/acrobati c_extreme_free_running/
That looks really cool, I think I should try just plain running before I even attempt that though.
Yes, yes, yes. You lose weight and don't even know it. I am an avid cyclist as you may be able to tell by the picture. I use this calorie count to keep up with what I consume versus what I burn. I rode for an hour yesterday and using my handy dandy heart rate monitor, I burned over 850 calories. It works your glutes, abs, hamstrings, calves, quads,etc. Definitely one of the best workouts to get in shape and lose weight!!
Who's your friend? ;-)
In years past I used to ride extensively - for a good workout I used my gears properly and kept up my RPMs while pedaling. I think I was going around 100 RPMs. Uphill, downhill - never coasting. [I have also been on a track bike with no brakes or freewheel before - that will force you to pedal - also used rollers which is like a non motorized treadmill for bikes and you can't coast on that either]
That was in days of toe clips and cleats - I know they have other options now but you use your legs for pushing down and pulling up and being attached to the pedals is important to get the most out of it.
What it did not work for me was my belly and inner thighs. Used a road bike so arms got a good workout too - but I had quads and calves to die for.
I hope to get back into it when I loose a bit more weight. My bike is an old road bike with downtube shifters and campagnolo components [not even sure if they are around anymore] - heavy and clunky by todays standards but state of the art in 1970 
-- though I doubt my rear will never work again on that old Brooks leather saddle. I think on a month long bike trip I took with 60-70 mile days, and crossing the Rockies, we were eating about 5,000-6,000 calories a day [much of it in beer] and not gaining.
My husband and I just bought bikes a month ago and started with a 6 mile course. We can now easily ride 15 miles nonstop and it takes us about an hour and 1/2. It's a great workout for me... my legs still get sore!
As for the upper body, try doing push ups, lifting weights or doing a punching workout like Taebo- Billy banks is awesome!
My bike is heavy and clunky by any standards, but I really can't see spending $1000 to take 10 pounds off my bike when the rider needs to lose 50. A new bike will be my reward when I reach my goal weight.
Biking is a GREAT way to lose weight. I don't bike outside... I only wish I could afford a nice bike. But I do take spinning/cycling classes at my gym and I have noticed that the particular areas it targets best is my butt, hams/quads. It's the BEST!
:)
Biking is the AWESOMEST way to lose weight- no impact!!! (Unless, of course, you fall down.) I lost 50 lbs in the space of two cycling seasons- didn't do much in between but try to maintain. And let me tell ya- impact is a bad thing when you're "a bit on the heavy side" (as my mom used to say it).
I can't run long enough or do enough aerobics to burn enough calories to do a whole lot of good- but I can stay on the bike for hours and hours. Yes, the saddle on a road bike does take a week or so to get used to!
BTW- there are lots of great options in bikes these days- you don't have to spend thousands. The most important thing is to get a bike that fits you! Best way to do that is visit your local bike shop. Entry level bicycles meant for riding around the neighborhood run between $200-$400, mountain bikes have a similar price range, road bikes (think Tour de France types) entry level in the $600-1000 range. Of course, for those with the cash, you can spend a whole heckuva lot more.
If you already have a set of wheels, take it to the bike shop anyway. For a modest cost (many times free), they will ensure it's ride-worthy and adjust it to fit you better (saddle height, handlebars, etc).
You will also need a good helmet- if you have a twenty-dollar head, get yourself a twenty-dollar helmet. Price upwards accordingly. That said, you can get a decent helmet with adequate ventilation in the $60-$100 range.
I will tell you, my Fuji Finest cost me about $990 brand new with a few components upgraded, and it's probably the best money I've ever spent. Look at it this way- how much money have you spent in the last few years on diet items, gym memberships, etc. How much did you get out of it? Ever wish you could wave a magic thousand-dollar-wand and drop 50 pounds while having fun?
Original Post by sfcgijill:
BTW- there are lots of great options in bikes these days- you don't have to spend thousands. The most important thing is to get a bike that fits you! Best way to do that is visit your local bike shop. Entry level bicycles meant for riding around the neighborhood run between $200-$400, mountain bikes have a similar price range, road bikes (think Tour de France types) entry level in the $600-1000 range. Of course, for those with the cash, you can spend a whole heckuva lot more.
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I will tell you, my Fuji Finest cost me about $990 brand new with a few components upgraded, and it's probably the best money I've ever spent. Look at it this way- how much money have you spent in the last few years on diet items, gym memberships, etc. How much did you get out of it? Ever wish you could wave a magic thousand-dollar-wand and drop 50 pounds while having fun?
That really is not bad at all in regards to prices!!! ---- I got my current bike in 1976 and it cost me $300 then [ and that was a discount because there were not too many men that wanted a yellow(ick) bike with a 21" frame-and it was a Paramount so the angles were perfect for me for long distance touring, but not ideal for road racing and people were wanting "better" names even though the frame was well built and the bike well equipped] .
Then I worked at a bike shop and got a very nice trek road bike for $600 wholesale in 1979. I am not sure what our tandem cost as I put it together peicemeal and traded the roadbike for the custom frame.
We still have the tandem and hope to get back into riding - When I loose some more weight we will get back on regular bikes, and then later fix the tandem back up with new components. [we let someone ride it and they trashed the front wheel which we need to rebuild and I want to add disc brakes - the cantilevers are not quite enough] Our hubs are threaded for them but who knows if we can find one now that will fit - - and gear shifting technology has changed drastically for the better than the old slant pantograph suff we have.
Befor you invest in a pricey bike Invest in a GPS CAD WATCH and CREATINE... I got both my bikes, One for 35 dollars at a resale and another at walmart for 80 dollars. Don't spend thousands of dallars on a bike unless you are training for a marathon- The Bike I have now is very difficult even in High Gear most of the time I have to STAND UP to get it MOVING up a very small incline (pain in azz). I road 24.51 (takes me a little under 2 hours to do 20miles) and burnt over 1073 cal. A typical 5 miles of cycling is about 500 calories. 4miles Of RUNNING is 443 calories burnt (and that's a 12 minute mile with 1 to 2 days recovery for a person that already retains weight it'll hurt and the recovery time is LONGER!
In the summer it is nothing for my 42 year old fat body to get Skinny Quick when I ride. i lose more riding then I do running (hence the recovery time) And Since I do not have Medical Insurance. I'm staying with cycling---I'm seasonal since I live in OHIO where there isn't to many days of summer to keep active and thin, I can't afford the expensive gym rates.... Cycling tones my arms, because I figured out you have to JUMP side walks and lift your hiney up over BUMPS or else you'll have a swollen BUMB... Yep, get ready for the ice pack but the bumb only hurts for about 2 weeks, then it goes away. You'll love the results... And confidents you'll get with your bike, Standing, pedal tricks, ect. It's great
Original Post by billie42:
Befor you invest in a pricey bicke Invest in a GPS CAD WATCH... I got both my bikes, One for 35 dollars at a resale and another at walmart for 80 dollars. Don't spend thousands of dallars on a bike unless you are training for a marathon- The Bike I have now is very difficult even in High Gear. I road 24.51 miles and burnt over 1073 calories. I'm sure I burnt more calories since the heat diameter was over 90% In the summer it is nothing for my 42 year old fat body to get Skinny Quick when I ride. i lose more riding then I do running and I'm seasonal since I live in OHIO where there isn't to many days of summer to keep active. So if anyone needs a room mate and you live in year around fitness weather PLEASE HIT ME UP
Don't spend thousands, sure, but if you want to enjoy riding, and you want to be able to replace parts that wear out, and you want a bike that was competently assembled, and you want one that *fits* you, don't buy an X-mart pile of crap, either.
I'm more than a little skeptical about this "GPS CAD WATCH." Unless I see it benchmarked against a power meter, I'd have to say it's optimistic--you have to ride really damned hard to burn nearly 1100 calories in just 24 miles. Most people just aren't fit enough to lay that much power down for that long (especially someplace flat, like Ohio).
Yea, I've riden on into the next town many of times. and the trail is a marked bike route. So Yep its a 20 + mile route and stretches from Cleveland to south of the Ohio River, enjoy your bike.
Absolutely. My dad is a cyclist and he's so fit, especially considering how old he is! Granted, he also works a really physically demanding job and hits the gym a few times a week (the guy has endless energy I swear), but cycling is his favorite. I think its cool because its cardio, but you also have to fight gravity up those hills. I heard someone say once that hills are "strength training in disguise".
As for equipment, he has a somewhat pricey road bike. The tubes in the tires need to be replaced fairly regularly, but other than that he's had the thing for as long as I can remember without problems. I think you should just go to a local bike shop and ask them for a suggestion. Maybe give them an idea of how much you're looking to spend so they don't try to sell you the most expensive thing in the store. Bikes can be like thousands of dollars but unless you're Lance Armstrong I don't think you need to pay that much.
LOL
I leave my bike out in the rain and snow. 
I know but the dang garage is across the street and I'm like "Oh Well" I am just to irresponsible to own an expensive bike. Happy your dad found his fitness nitch. I did 11 miles today. It was hard.. And guys were just passing me by on the bike route. So embarrassing Think I will go out and do another 10 tonight
Also if you have a mountain bike try riding on grass in the park or down the side of a road. Biking on grass is a slow tough "FAT BURNING" way to ride a bike. Remember to breath properly. Get plenty of O2 in the blood stream.
do 40 minutes of that and I guarantee you will lose weight.
I have lost 65# so far, and owe a lot of my success to my bike. still 279#, quite a bit more to go don't need an expensive bike mine was $450. leisurely stroll on a bike will not yield much benefit, i try to maintain avg speed of 14-16 MPH. however this took me quite a while to achieve. start off slow work your way up. now I can do 50 miles and maintain speed 12 to 14 MPH the entire time. make sure the bike fits you or the ride will not be enjoyable, go to your local bike shop as a proper fit is important.
I ride about 50-75 miles a week, lots of good advice here and I will argue up and down that its much better form of exercise then running due to low impact
Here is a simple recommendation. Ride about 30 minutes, ride at a speed you feel comfortable at, but at least 3 times within that 30 minutes you should ride hard enough to run out of breath then allow yourself to catch your breath while still pedaling (coasting is cheating). Follow this simple advice and you won't need to worry about speed or distance yet you'll burn some calories.
