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I was thinking about the comparison between cycling and running.
Running is certainly the best way to get the maximum amount of exercise in a period of time. There is no such thing as coasting in running (I think it’s called “walking”). If you’re into it for the exercise, this is the way to go, maximum pain for the time spent. Thanks to the magic of gearing, cycling can be an all out aerobic experience, or a leisurely “smell the flowers” amble (or so I’m told). Serious runners are uniformly really skinny, but you can be a pretty decent cyclist while still carrying around a midriff bulge, though not a contender for the polka dot jersey.
You don’t need a whole lot of equipment if your sport is running. A pair of sneakers (or “running shoes” as they’re known to the cognoscenti) is about it. I periodically get running mail order catalogs, and there are the many pages of clothing that you see in bike catalogs, but when it comes down to equipment, the sneakers are it. No page after page of tires, derailers, shifters, saddles, lights, etc. Not even a section on helmets. Even the rollerbladers have that. You don’t need a rack for your car to carry your sneakers. Running catalogs are boring indeed.
The nice thing about cycling is that you can actually use your bike to get somewhere. You can even get stuff when you get there and bring it back. While this is to some extent possible with running, it’s not really mainstream. I knew someone who used to run from his home in Allston to work in Cambridge, but he is the only running commuter I’ve ever known, while I’ve known lots of bike commuters.
I dabbled briefly with running. When I was at the job with the Allston runner, I got sucked into the running culture. I think I may have entered a 5K event or two, but my finest hour was the 10K Corporate Challenge. Of course, I was in it mostly for the T-shirt, but finishing 10K of running was for me the moral equivalent of a century ride. The future Mrs. D entered with me and at the time she was a serious smoker, so she was a real contender for last place. The roadies were packing up the show and we were considering contacting the police when she finally limped in, a proud finisher.
One business trip I didn’t bother to take my bike, so I figured I’d pack the sneakers and get a little exercise while there. Big mistake. It doesn’t matter how many miles I cycle, running uses totally different muscles. So after not running at all, I sauntered out for a several mile jaunt, after which I felt like I’d been run over by a truck. Won’t do that again.
So, I’m sticking with cycling, I’ve hung up my sneakers. No more cross training for me.
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