When cycling so much, forgotten much walking

[shootingstar]

There are times (for several wks.) each year where I've cycled to everything and everywhere locally, that my body has nearly forgotten much walking.

Do you ever get that way at times? Or is it just me 'cause I'm car-free?

[Melalvai]

I walk more because I bicycle. Whereas in the past I'd bring my bike to campus because one mile was so darn far to walk to class, now if it's "only" a mile it doesn't seem worth getting the bike out.

[goldfinch]

I was thinking about this not long ago. Last winter I was in the same place and walked in the state park all the time. Now I bike everywhere. I know that I need to do more weight bearing exercises and walk more. I've been running a little but it is very little, I am only up to a mile and my running is about the speed of a brisk walk.

[lph]

Yep. I had to take up running a year or two back when I realized I was hardly getting any weightbearing exercise anymore. When I did a lot of rock climbing I got in a fair bit of walking, because getting to the crags involved a sometimes quite strenuous hike in carrying climbing gear, but when I was heavily involved in cycling I had my bicycle with me everywhere and there seemed no reason to walk at all. It felt so slow!

[shootingstar]

but when I was heavily involved in cycling I had my bicycle with me everywhere and there seemed no reason to walk at all. It felt so slow!

Exactly. I even like cycling for a small errand that's a 20 minute walk away. And then I often end up cycling a little bit more afterwards.

My body gets addicted to cycling..or maybe it's my brain/perception gets addicted with cycling as 'faster'.

But also where I live, it's just more pleasant to cycle ...in my opinion. Well, actually come to think of it, I've had this mind frame for all 3 major cities where I've lived where services are not too far away from me.

For instance, living in Ontario..I just found it less hot, humid/awful in the summer, if it was 30 degrees C and humid, to cycle to the store that was a 15 min. walk away instead of walking under the blazing sun and have cars swirl by me. I know about weight bearing benefits, but really I had zero interest in lugging home groceries under those weather conditions.

[lph]

Exactly. I even like cycling for a small errand that's a 20 minute walk away. And then I often end up cycling a little bit more afterwards.

20 minutes away would be out of the question My dh laughs at me because I prefer to bike down to the grocery store which is a 5 minute walk. I've bought a trailer now though, so I can argue that I can get a lot more groceries home that way...

Now that it's winter and we have poorly plowed roads right up to the house walking short distances makes more sense, but come spring I'm very hard to peel off my wheels.

[shootingstar]

It may well be that because we don't have a car, the whole matter of walking, is not totally lost exercise on me, because when it's too rainy, snowy, icy or way too windy, then we have to walk to get somewhere. Taking a taxi is really...only couple times annually. (less than 5 times)

Even if only to a transit stop.


The downtown here isn't as pleasant as Vancouver nor as interesting as Toronto (Toronto has some large, interesting distinct ethnic areas, or areas well-treed with old houses).

So really, cycling in same area where I could normally walk, that's uninspiring visually in terms of buildings, layout, just "feels" better psychologically on a bike.

Let's put it this way, if I walked to work outside, the whole distance, I would be bored. Cycling makes me feel better and I take a greener, parkway route anyway which adds probably an extra km. ro so. No big deal and I still get to destination faster than walking anyway.

If cycling makes me feel better, than walking, I'll do it.

[Antaresia]

it isn't just you.

I'm also car free, and I've been biking for almost a year. A few weeks ago, I decided to walk home from downtown. I've done walks like that before, so it really surprised me when the results were that I was sore for 3 days.

[Catrin]

I try to get in one fitness walk a week (4-6 brisk miles - inside or out), and I hike in the summer. I've noticed that my hips, hamstring, and IT bands are much happier with me when I do this.

It is a struggle to do this during riding season however for I really want to be on my bike. The mountain biking/camping helps, for I will ride in the morning and hike in the afternoon, or vice versa depending on weather. It really is a struggle to get this done outside of my camping weekends though. I need to get better at this in 2012. I can't run, and my legs need something different to do outside of riding and weights!

[Melalvai]

For instance, living in Ontario..I just found it less hot, humid/awful in the summer, if it was 30 degrees C and humid, to cycle to the store that was a 15 min. walk away instead of walking under the blazing sun and have cars swirl by me. I know about weight bearing benefits, but really I had zero interest in lugging home groceries under those weather conditions.

I got one of the collapsible grocery carts because my husband hates to bike but he'll walk, and the grocery store is 1/2 mile away. Even a small grocery trip seemed to generate some weighty bags that weren't fun to carry home.

[Susan]

I know the feeling, there are times when I never leave the house without my bike, even if it's just to the grocery store around the corner. I think it's worth the effort because I don't have to carry everything but can put it on the rack.

But I have consciously been trying to walk more and do short errands on foot. Now there's snow on the streets and I have to walk more anyway until there is less frozen mud.

[goldfinch]

Today it is raining in the Valley and it rained yesterday and probably will rain tomorrow. We really need it so it is a good thing. I went for a walk in the rain today because I am going a bit stir crazy cooped up in the motorhome. I don't mind being out in the rain but walking is so sloooooowwwww.

I also came to the realization from this thread that I love to bike but I don't like to exercise. I only exercise so I can bike.

[salsabike]

Nope. I like riding. I like walking too. You can experience and enjoy the world in totally different ways doing each, and I like 'em both.

[PamNY]

My Xootr has rendered me almost a non-walker.

I walk a lot of short distances, but I really have to force myself to do longer walks occasionally.

Last year when I went to pick up a new bike I ended up walking several miles since I couldn't bring my Xootr. I was exhausted. Felt so good to get on that bike, and not just because it was new (to me).

[hebe]

...but when I was heavily involved in cycling I had my bicycle with me everywhere and there seemed no reason to walk at all. It felt so slow!

Exactly this. Walking seems so inefficient to me now, and bad as our road infrastructure is for cyclists, it's even worse for pedestrians. So I'm not really a big walker any more, other than to the closest supermarket and garage which are 5 and 10 minutes walk away respectively. So I walk to those fairly frequently but I haven't done a long walk in ages.