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Will running improve (or harm) my riding?

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  • March 17, 2015 at 7:55 am #23528
    Low Speed Wobble

    Fellas, and ladies, please be kind to this question. It might seem like an impossible one to answer, but will the action and activity of running improve (or harm) any aspect of my cycling? I’m a 48-year old competent club rider, I don’t train or race, I just ride – and I can ride all day long (when I’ve got the time). There are times when I don’t even have two hours to spare for a ride. My question is – will running for an hour a couple of times a week improve or harm my riding, or will it have no physiological effect on the mechanics of riding a bike? (I have no pretensions of competing in triathlon either). I’m keen to learn from those will similar experiences.

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  • March 19, 2015 at 10:46 am #837477
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    Matt eaton

    Ian Allardyce wrote: A

    Ian Allardyce wrote:
    A combinantion of too much desk sitting and only cycling can lead to shortened/tight hamstrings. A bit of running can go someway to rectifying that.

    +1

    Most of my training of late has focussed on short sprint efforts (I’m a BMXer) and earlier this week I could barely reach my knees let alone my toes. Running does help with this. I did an easy road ride in ‘recovery’ mode this morning which also seems to have helped.

    March 19, 2015 at 10:43 am #837475
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    Low Speed Wobble

    11speedaddict wrote: So,

    11speedaddict wrote:
    So, running helps cycling but not vice versa.

    In this case, it’s going to be ideal.

    March 19, 2015 at 10:14 am #837473
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    11speedaddict

    Just something that hasn’t
    Just something that hasn’t been mentioned and I have been riding and running for 25 years, I have discussed this with runners from my club who have taken up cycling and we agree on one thing :
    Running helps your cycling especially hard efforts plus helps weight management. Just as long as you do not get injuries which is easier said than done.
    Cycling does not help your running quite the opposite as cycling shortens your hamstrings which has a detrimental effect on running. Stretching helps counter this.
    If I am training for a marathon I always give up cycling ( which kills me as I prefer cycling to running ) as it has a habit of giving me minor niggles.
    Obviously we are all different but that has been my experience plus friends of mine.
    So, running helps cycling but not vice versa.

    March 19, 2015 at 9:43 am #837471
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    Ian Allardyce

    philbo wrote:As a personal

    philbo wrote:
    As a personal trainer and sports therapist with numerous clients who are runners, cyclists or triathletes I can offer you the following advice:
    1. Cycling generally leads to various muscle imbalances and injuries, especially lower back and shoulders. There is also evidence of bone density issues amongst older cyclists as cycling is a non/low impact activity.
    2. Runners are generally knackered by the time they hit 45-50.
    3. Triathletes seem to go on for ever. The mix of training, gym, pool, run, bike and conditioning is very holistic.
    Bit of a generalisation but my conclusion after many years in the trade.

    I second that. A combinantion of too much desk sitting and only cycling can lead to shortened/tight hamstrings. A bit of running can go someway to rectifying that.

    March 18, 2015 at 8:38 pm #837469
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    barbarus

    I love to run, my running
    I love to run, my running partner never really got the hang of cycling:

    March 18, 2015 at 5:48 pm #837467
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    Matt eaton

    My 2p worth: If you’re not
    My 2p worth: If you’re not racing there’s no need to worry about the marginal benefits/disbenefits of running (or any other activity for that matter).

    I did a bit of running over the winter to establish a little bit of conditioning for CX as I found even short running sections really took it out of me. I think it helped. I won’t run much for the next few months, maybe just the odd jog if I’m out of town for work without my bike, but I will start to build in short runs in preparation for CX season from late summer ish onwards.

    March 18, 2015 at 4:00 pm #837465
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    stever

    Nothing to see here. I see
    Nothing to see here. I see you can’t delete comments then…

    March 18, 2015 at 3:56 pm #837463
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    stever

    crikey wrote:I’m in the no

    crikey wrote:
    I’m in the no camp; went from fell running to road racing, and the fastest riders up hill aren’t going out doing secret fell runs…

    Depends on the race – they are in the Three Peaks CX 🙂

    March 18, 2015 at 3:08 pm #837461
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    1860

    Runnings fine as long as you
    Runnings fine as long as you don’t add swimming and become a triathlete.

    March 18, 2015 at 1:14 pm #837459
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    Low Speed Wobble

    Thanks to everyone for the
    Thanks to everyone for the outstanding feedback and sage advice. I’ll give it a go, carefully at first. Yes. Looking forward to it now. Splendid. Thank you.

    March 18, 2015 at 12:55 pm #837457
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    adrianoconnor

    Cross training is always
    Cross training is always good! You should definitely give it a go if you’re already thinking you might like it.

    Like somebody else already said, you should ease yourself in and build up slowly — if you’re a strong cyclist the temptation will be to go out and use your anaerobic capacity to smash running too, but you need to let your muscles/frame adapt. Very soon you’ll pick up speed and if you stay injury free you’ll really enjoy it.

    I think you’ll notice a difference on the bike too — because all of the stabilising muscles around the tops of your thighs and torso will become stronger. Also, standing up on the pedals to accelerate up hill is far easier thanks to running fitness.

    The main downside is finding enough spare time to fit in the running as well as cycling and everything else…

    As an aside, you should also think about doing core-strength exercises too, if you don’t already (either free weights, body-weight stuff or yoga), and swimming is great too.

    March 18, 2015 at 8:21 am #837455
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    whufan

    I cycle, I run, I take part
    I cycle, I run, I take part in duathlons. I’m not a cyclist, I’m not a runner and I’m not a duathlete. I just enjoy them all, although my cycling is the stronger of them all. Oh, and make it all off-road and I’m a very happy person!

    March 18, 2015 at 8:04 am #837453
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    mikem22

    Think about swimming. I was
    Think about swimming. I was never a good swimmer as a kid but taught myself about 10 years ago. I now swim 3 times per week as there is a pool over the road from work and feel it really aids my cycling. I have fewer aching days in the saddle and my core is a lot stronger. I always go for a gentle recovery swim the day after a long ride and this seems to aid recovery.

    I am 45 and don’t get on particularly well with running. If you can learn to swim then it will always be with you as you get older, unlike running or other impact sports. 🙂

    Having said that I can also see that cross training would also be good to do in the off season.

    March 18, 2015 at 7:51 am #837451
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    mlimburn

    It’s helped me, I now run
    It’s helped me, I now run twice a week. I have a rheumatoid condition, and so I’m not supposed to run. But I want to complete a Triathlon this year. The running in particular, seems to have helped improve leg strength and balance.
    However the above is true work into it gradually, and make sure you are running correctly, which should help with the joint issues.

    March 18, 2015 at 7:46 am #837449
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    Colin Peyresourde

    So much to say so little
    So much to say so little space to say it. Basically there are benefits from running (for cyclists), but like most things you need a holistic approach to it all. If you haven’t run for a while you may need to develop tendon and ligament strength which isn’t done over night. A lot of people do burn out their knees etc running, but usually because they don’t do enough flexibility training. Running is one of the more wearing exercises you can do, but done correctly you can keep going for a long time.

    Build up slowly as others have said – start with 10-15 minutes and then very gradually extend. Try the book ‘Ready to Run’ by Kelly Starett. That will give you a no injury approach to doing it.

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