Comparison of cyclists to other sports - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

The Borg · 07-11-2006, 09:42 PM

Would cyclists make good:

Track runners? <sprinters, long distance runners etc.>

Seems like they have the lung capacity and drive etc. I'm wondering if there is a direct transition from one to the other.

Speed skaters?

Cross country skiers?

bluegoose · 07-11-2006, 11:33 PM

None of the above.

Cycling is the ultimate sport:

Easy on the joints (except for the occasional hip avascular necrosis from recent hip fractures - Don't fall next time Landis!)

Good for even old guys (exhibit A = Creekster),

It doesn't require getting your trash pinned by the rim when trying to dunk beyond your prime ( I think we all know who we're talking about here).

Not as expensive as golf (beyond the initial investment and occasional equipment upgrade - actually scratch this last point).

Safer than downhill skiing (aside from the occasional roadside fatalities). You'll never tear an ACL on a bike.

Fewer overuse injuries than running (plantar fasciitis, shin splints, tendonitis, stress fractures).

Not as girly as speed skating (Remember the teenage girl drama at the olympics a few months ago between Shani Davis and that other guy?)

Why would anyone want to change?

Archaea · 07-11-2006, 11:36 PM

Some runners become good cyclists, but the reverse is not always true.

I know cyclists that become good cross country skiers, and speed skaters.

Most of what goose says is true.

The only athletes more manly than cyclists? Triathletes, cuz we tri all cuz we can't anything right.

creekster · 07-11-2006, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archaea

Some runners become good cyclists, but the reverse is not always true.

I know cyclists that become good cross country skiers, and speed skaters.

Most of what goose says is true.

The only athletes more manly than cyclists? Triathletes, cuz we tri all cuz we can't anything right.

It sort of depends on what cyclist you are looking at. All cyclist's that are competitive have good aerobic capcity and so have the potnetial to do reasonably well in aerobic activities, although how well will depend on their bodies and interest. Track cyclists tend to do well as speed skaters as do sprinters; simialr muscle groups. (remember Eric Heiden?) Road riders and mountain bikers that climb well can sometimes be good distance runners. Few bike riders are good spritners, however, as they have bad upper body development (typically, although Archaea Schwrazenegger is the exception)

For fat old guys, cycling is great becasue it is low impact, makes you sweat without hurting too much, and allows you to pretend to work hard so you can consume vast quantities of food without a guilty conscience, later marvelling that you're not losing weight any faster than you are, even though you work out so much.

I started cycling becasue I wanted to get in shape earlier for skiing (alpine) and then after moving to Calif. skiing sort of receded into the past.

Cycling is a good sport for life.

bluegoose · 07-11-2006, 11:58 PM

Did I get my chronology backward? Was Eric Heiden first a cyclist or a skater?

creekster · 07-12-2006, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluegoose

Did I get my chronology backward? Was Eric Heiden first a cyclist or a skater?

Heiden was a speedskater first. You are correct. He was a truly remarkable speedskater, in fact. As a cyclist I think he did OK in the US (may have won a championship or two) and started the TdF with the 7-11 team but was a dnf after dome sort of accident (I can't really recall the details) and that was pretty much all he ever did.

The thing about bike racing is that it is more than just aerobic capcity, it is also tactics and bike handling. Arch can priobably speak to this as I understand he does some crit racing from time to time, but racing is more than just the engine, you also need a good driver.

SteelBlue · 07-12-2006, 12:25 AM

Am I the only one here who really likes speed skating? That's a cool sport. But maybe it's the Netherlands Missionary in me.

creekster · 07-12-2006, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelBlue

Am I the only one here who really likes speed skating? That's a cool sport. But maybe it's the Netherlands Missionary in me.

I agree, it is very cool. Back in the day when my uncle was a competitve cyclist he did long track speed skating in winter to stay in shape. I used to go watch him as a kid and want to try it, but never actually did. It sure looked fun, however.

bluegoose · 07-12-2006, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelBlue

Am I the only one here who really likes speed skating? That's a cool sport. But maybe it's the Netherlands Missionary in me.

Its grown on me a bit in the past couple of winter olympics. The endurance aspect is interesting to me, but my frame of reference is not really there as I've never done it, so I don't really realize how hard it can be.

I don't really get the short track either. It is very graceful and looks like it would be very fun to do. But it is also very frustrating to watch. One guy loses an edge, takes the pack out, and all of a sudden the slowest guy in the race wins. I prefer a sport where the best guy (or team) usually wins.

Archaea · 07-12-2006, 12:56 AM

NO l have loved it since the 1968 Grenoble Olympics. We've always done well in it, plus it's cool and fast.

I've tried it a bit, but it's tough to get the form done.

07-11-2006, 09:42 PM	#1
The Borg Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 533	Comparison of cyclists to other sports Would cyclists make good: Track runners? <sprinters, long distance runners etc.> Seems like they have the lung capacity and drive etc. I'm wondering if there is a direct transition from one to the other. Speed skaters? Cross country skiers?

07-11-2006, 11:36 PM	#3
Archaea Assistant to the Regional Manager Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Orgasmatron Posts: 24,338	Some runners become good cyclists, but the reverse is not always true. I know cyclists that become good cross country skiers, and speed skaters. Most of what goose says is true. The only athletes more manly than cyclists? Triathletes, cuz we tri all cuz we can't anything right. __________________ Ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα

07-12-2006, 12:56 AM	#10
Archaea Assistant to the Regional Manager Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Orgasmatron Posts: 24,338	NO l have loved it since the 1968 Grenoble Olympics. We've always done well in it, plus it's cool and fast. I've tried it a bit, but it's tough to get the form done. __________________ Ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα

07-11-2006, 11:33 PM	#2
bluegoose Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,919	None of the above. Cycling is the ultimate sport: Easy on the joints (except for the occasional hip avascular necrosis from recent hip fractures - Don't fall next time Landis!) Good for even old guys (exhibit A = Creekster), It doesn't require getting your trash pinned by the rim when trying to dunk beyond your prime ( I think we all know who we're talking about here). Not as expensive as golf (beyond the initial investment and occasional equipment upgrade - actually scratch this last point). Safer than downhill skiing (aside from the occasional roadside fatalities). You'll never tear an ACL on a bike. Fewer overuse injuries than running (plantar fasciitis, shin splints, tendonitis, stress fractures). Not as girly as speed skating (Remember the teenage girl drama at the olympics a few months ago between Shani Davis and that other guy?) Why would anyone want to change?

07-11-2006, 11:58 PM	#5
bluegoose Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,919	Did I get my chronology backward? Was Eric Heiden first a cyclist or a skater?

07-12-2006, 12:25 AM	#7
SteelBlue Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Norcal Posts: 5,821	Am I the only one here who really likes speed skating? That's a cool sport. But maybe it's the Netherlands Missionary in me.