Hi guys, got a question. I'm a serious exerciser, so what I'm thinking of would be in addition to the workouts I already do. You know how they recommend you get additional exercise in increments every day, like parking further from the store and taking the stairs instead of the elevator, etc? I do all this but on foot--i.e., in addition to my exercise sessions, I also try to walk when I run errands. But the weather is so glorious this week I was thinking about getting a bike. If I casually biked to run my errands--and that would mean at a pretty slow pace with a lot of stopping--would that add anything to the scheduled exercise I get--or would it just be taking away from the walking? In other words, does casual, stop-and-start, slow biking contribute ANYTHING, or would I be better off walking?

Thanks!

If you have a set distance that your going to travel, say a mile, then walking would be more beneficial than biking. If you have a set amount of time, say and hour, then I would think that the benefit would be pretty equal.

Thanks, Hornbrau. I kinda suspected that.

Before I bought a car, I used to ride a bike everywhere (including my jobs). At my heaviest back 7 years ago, I weighed 220 lbs - and I rode a bike everywhere!

It wasn't until I started going on a daily walk (along with a diet program) that I started losing weight.

When you ride a bike, you don't pedal too much and tend to "cruise" along. Walking is more beneficial and you get more of a "workout" while doing it. Sitting on a bike seat doesn't really help with your upper body too much.

All the above is true, in my opinion ...

But using a bike means you use different muscles, or use the same muscles in different ways.

That kind of cross training gives you better overall fitness.

Seems to me like the best solution would be to enjoy your secondary physical activities, and keep them varied for best results.

Just my $0.02!

That's great advice, thanks.

I agree with AntiM .. it's the time that you excercise that really counts .. walking is a very good excercise .. partly because, you do it constantly for a while .. and it's easy !! Hey, you get a chance to look around the neighborhood, check out the scenery! It's the time you excercise that counts ... biking is very good ... just try to get your totalk aerobics to about 30 to 45 minutes ... 3 times a week