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Why do people say running is harder than cycling?

I saw this question in the running section, and I am wondering what the cyclists thoughts are (I am copying it word for word here so apologies to the original questioner):

cycling (at elite levels) is 100x more difficult than running in my opinion. i mean, TDF riders go 30+ mph CLIMBING THE FRENCH ALPS!!

people say the running:cycling ratio is approx 1:4, well in that case someone would need to run 500+miles at an extremely high speed to compare with TDF riders

i mean lance Armstrong ran the boston marathon. there is no way a a marathon runner could complete the TDF

no disrespect to runners, but cycling is so much more challenging, especially mentally

Update:

Curious answers from the cyclists - I was expecting a strong defence of cycling but looks like there is a mutual respect from both sides from runners and cyclists... which is harder - running looks just a little harder so far

14 Answers

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  • MtBikr
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago
    Favourite answer

    Running is harder on the body, feet pounding the pavement, joint stress, running downhill causes muscle and tendon problems, the list goes on and on.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    It can go either way, don't forget the cyclists ride in a pack and draft off of each other to save energy. Runners do not usually race up a mountain. The 1 to 4 ratio is for walking not running. The amount of energy it takes to walk at 3 mph is about the same to ride a bike at 12 mph on level ground. Running burns a lot more calories per hour then cycling.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    Neither, its all approximately exertion tiers and what you're used to. I used to run XC and track yet now I do quite some mountain cycling and street cycling. Is cycling harder? It advance into as quickly as I first began yet after 5 years of driving and not often working, i stumble on working to be harder. A 30 minute run has my legs sore for 2 days yet a 4 hour journey interior the mountains does not section me. it extremely is the opposite of what it advance into like as quickly as I used to run each and all of the time. in case you prefer to easily burst off of a time assessment you are able to burn extra energy working for a million hour than you are able to cycling for a million hour on the comparable exertion fee. Heres the element nonetheless, maximum runs human beings do are at maximum a million hour the place as motorbike rides can quite be as much as 4 hours. So that's extra frustrating? working for a million hour or cycling for 3? there is not any thank you to tell and no thank you to respond to the question. A runner could have an much less complicated time working and a motorbike proprietor could have an much less complicated time cycling. Its in basic terms that straightforward.

  • 1 decade ago

    Depends how you look at it, running a marathon is hard but on a bike its easy because you don't have to constantly pedal. However, cycling 200km or more like pro cyclists do is very difficult, so you can't really compare them because they're different sports that require different muscles of the legs.

  • 1 decade ago

    As a dedicated cyclist of over 20 years I think a lot of this sort of "theory" is just posturing by one sports person to another. Its not to be take seriously and misses the point that each elite sport has its hard and easy parts.

    I have massive respect for runners.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    it much easier on the body but no way can you say one is much harder then the other...how about the ultra marathoners the 100+ miles with some that have less then 36 hours time limit or the LA to NY 3200mile 70 marathon with your 1:4 that would be a 12800mile bike race TDF is only 2200 miles in 19 days

    http://www.ultramarathonrunning.com/races/usa.html

    http://www.sergegirard.com/index.php?part=course&I...

    to each there own

  • 1 decade ago

    That 1:4 ratio goes the other way, 1 mile of running equal more or less to 4 miles of cycling, so a 100 mile bike race would be similar to a marathon

  • Anonymous
    4 years ago

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  • 7 years ago

    Both are great sports. If you're going all out there ain't much differance. As a runner I found the uphill cycling brutal but the downhills easier.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    why

    If running was easier they would have a tour de france for running. Running is all about maximum damage being done on long distance rides. It takes the last carbs, the last stores in your body... plus the pounding that feet, knees, and hips takes is incredible.

    Riders are great athletes. And probably better endurance athletes than the great runners.... but, for a daily regimen. running is sooo much harder!

    Soccerref

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