Cycling on rest days?

[vikicats]

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

[vikicats Graduate]

Correction - seemed to remember hating it!!

Sorry! V x

[PeaBea Graduate]

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 Graduate in reply to PeaBea]

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

[swanscot Graduate 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 Graduate]

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 Graduate]

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 Graduate]

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 Graduate]

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 Graduate 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 Graduate 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 Graduate]

Correction - seemed to remember hating it!!

Sorry! V x

[vikicats Graduate]

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

[mark909 Graduate]

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 Graduate]

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 Graduate 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 Graduate]

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 Graduate 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 Graduate]

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!

[Hidden]

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.