Cycling on rest days?: I'm thinking of buying a... - Couch to 5K

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Cycling on rest days?

vikicats profile image
vikicatsGraduate
19 Replies

I'm thinking of buying a bike so on rest days I can cycle. Haven't been on a bike for 20 years and seem to remember having it. However thought I'd hate running and look how that turned out! :-)

So I've been doing some research but thought I'd ask what you all thought and whether you had any suggestions and or tips. Thanks.

Viki :-)

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vikicats profile image
vikicats
Graduate
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19 Replies
vikicats profile image
vikicatsGraduate

Correction - seemed to remember hating it!!

Sorry! V x

PeaBea profile image
PeaBeaGraduate

I have also been toying with the idea of getting a bike so shall lurk on your post, Viki, to see what others say. My only hesitation is that I live in North Cornwall which is hilly in-between the hills!!!

vikicats profile image
vikicatsGraduate in reply to PeaBea

I have the same reservations. I live at the bottom of a huge hill!

swanscot profile image
swanscotGraduate in reply to vikicats

At least you can coast home at the end of a ride. I live at the top of a long decline and am always cold for the first five minutes as I free-wheel down to the village. Then, although the hill is not too steep, it's hard work pedalling back home when I'm tired!

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduate

I've just got an electric bike (it was my Very Important Birthday present) - the power only comes on if you pedal so you are definitely still working.

back_to_18 profile image
back_to_18Graduate

I cycle once a week and have done since the first few days of C25K.

I started off just doing a mile and increased it gradually. (I now do just over 20 miles). It's not a huge amount of exercise and is "different" enough (at least on pleasant days) to add that extra bit of exercise.

However, I ensure that the C25K always got "priority" in that if I felt I'd cycled a little bit too far on my cycle day and that impacted on my running I'd cut down the distance for the next week.

swanscot profile image
swanscotGraduate

Cycling is good crossing training to complement running. Cycling primarily works the quadriceps, which are not used much in running and strengthening the quads can help prevent some knee running injuries.

swanscot profile image
swanscotGraduate

If you wondering what bike to get, I'm afraid, it really is a case of 'you get what you pay for'. If you buy a cheap bike from a non-specialist shop, it'll probably be heavy and uncomfortable and you won't enjoy riding it. I'd advise going to a local bike shop and getting advice. They (usually) are like the local running shops and staffed by cycling enthusiasts who wish to share the delights of cycling with everyone. They'll want to fit you with something that's right for you, so you find cycling is fun. Tell them the sort of cycling you plan to do (road/off-road?) and hopefully they'll have a range of bikes for you to try out.

vikicats profile image
vikicatsGraduate in reply to swanscot

Thanks. I have already made enquiries at a local shop, been around for 70 years in same family. They have a very nice looking Claud Butler that I quite fancy!

swanscot profile image
swanscotGraduate in reply to vikicats

Ooh, look at you. Someone who claimed to have hated cycling previously, looking at, and fancying owing, a Claude Butler bike! Lovely! I bet you'll love it when you get one!

vikicats profile image
vikicatsGraduate

Correction - seemed to remember hating it!!

Sorry! V x

vikicats profile image
vikicatsGraduate

Don't know how this got repeated again and can't seem to delete it either!

mark909 profile image
mark909Graduate

I do mountain biking. What type of bike are you thinking of getting? Specialised Myka is a good one for women. It depends how much you want to spend. Whatever you do don't get one of the cheap 'full suspension' bikes from halfords! You can get very good deals on websites such as wiggle or chain reaction cycles. There's a forum on the bikeradar website which could probably offer you better advice than on here.

vikicats profile image
vikicatsGraduate

Thanks Mark. I'm planning on mainly riding on roads, cycle paths and canal paths. I have had a look at Specialized bikes. My other half has one and cannot praise it enough! I'll take a look at that website.

Viki :-)

sfb350 profile image
sfb350Graduate in reply to vikicats

If cycling to work is a possibility, look into the Cyclescheme - I bought a far better bike than I could otherwise afford by funding it through work. There's more about it here:

cyclescheme.co.uk/

OldNed profile image
OldNedGraduate

I'm in the middle of restoring a much-loved 30+ year old Claud Butler; they are a very well respected marque with lots of history behind them, although no longer the small family firm they once were. But you could do a lot worse than a Claud. And mixing cycling with running is a good, well-balanced plan.

vikicats profile image
vikicatsGraduate in reply to OldNed

Thanks Oldned. I have borrowed a friend's bike for a bit to see how I get on. Not too bad so far but only got it Sunday. Think I will be investing in one soon. :-)

Poppy2010 profile image
Poppy2010Graduate

I bought a hybrid bike on the ride to work scheme 18 months ago, used it for commuting daily to work (7.5 miles each way), came to love it, challenged myself by recording my times each ride and aimed t better it ... then I got moved at work, now much further into London and cycling isn't practical so just ride for pleasure but haven't been since November due to work/illness/weather/running...

Did 12.6 miles yesterday (rest day after week9 run 1 on Tuesday) was a very cold wind once we got onto country roads, but I felt great fitness wise - the running is paying off all round!

Hope you enjoy your friends bike!

I do cycle on my days off, but primarily as a form of transport. I have a single speed/fixie (set up for single speed at the moment) and even NW London can be surprisingly hard work when you have no gears to manage the hills!

I agree with previous posters, cycling is a good way of strengthening and training your quadriceps, which in turn prevents knee issues.

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