Is commuting = Moderate exercise?

[knonist]

After 6 months of commuting of 18 miles a day, I found that commuting is easier than it used to be. I enjoy cycle at cursing speed (12mph) and in order to avoid injuries, I do not want to cycle faster.

The question arise here: is my daily commuting equivalent to moderate exercise (or even light exercise)?

According to the NHS, the definition of exercise are as follow:

Light exercise generally allows you to talk at the same time. Examples of light exercise include going for a walk, doing some light housework or gardening.

Moderate exercise should make you feel slightly out of breath. You should feel slightly worn out, but not to the point where it is unbearable. Examples of moderate exercise are going for a brisk walk or walking up a hill.

A friend of mine said what I am doing now cannot classed as exercise as it became a routine of my life, and exercise should be in addition of that, which I kind of agrees as I’m getting used to the commute, I am not out of breath nor feeling worn out, I didn’t break sweat, and I cannot feel the increase of my heart rate.

What do you guys think?

 

[cisamcgu]

I would say it rates as moderate excercise, definately more than light. 18 miles per day at any speed has got to be better than a little light housework ...

 

[Alien8]

You have plateaued but your general fitness is better than when you started. What used to be moderate is now light exercise - for you. But you're happy so that's great. I'm just wondering what these injuries are that you want to avoid (by not cycling faster)?

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

You have plateaued but your general fitness is better than when you started. What used to be moderate is now light exercise - for you. But you're happy so that's great. I'm just wondering what these injuries are that you want to avoid (by not cycling faster)?

possibly injuries to the pocket as they realise what fun it is to go quick, and upgrade the bike to full carbon with a disk wheel.

 

[knonist]

You have plateaued but your general fitness is better than when you started. What used to be moderate is now light exercise - for you. But you're happy so that's great. I'm just wondering what these injuries are that you want to avoid (by not cycling faster)?

I can not afford to have any muscle injuries and cycling is my only way to get to work, in addition ,Knee injuries, injuries from potholes etc.

Also I'm wear office gears for my commute so I cant go very fast - I'm wearing a pair of steel cap boot at the moment.

 

[J4CKO]

"Cursing speed" can be very apt !

I know you say you dont want to but I would aim to step it up a couple of mph, I try to not drop below 15 mph and try to do 18-ish whenever possible over my 14 mile round trip and try and power up hills to get the heart working otherwise it can feel a bit pedestrian, I think that if I am going to all that farting about geting changed and stuff I might as well make it count, more difficult this time of year on a Hybrid with panniers and a big coat but you feel the benefit when the nights draw out and the weather gets better, nothing summer/weekend roadies hate more than getting chased down and passed by a fat bloke on a Hybrid.

I have not injured myself by going that bit faster, its still fairly low impact, its falling off that causes the injuries, plus I feel safer the faster I go, I struggle with going at a lower pace, it pisses me off, I need to feel I am making progress.

 

[knonist]

possibly injuries to the pocket as they realise what fun it is to go quick, and upgrade the bike to full carbon with a disk wheel.

yes, that's somehting I have to be very careful as well.

But my 7.6FX is almost 5kg heavier than it used to be.
Rear rack, a pair of M+ instead of the thin tyres, thicker inner tube, tools bag, mud guards, a heavy abus lock and a 2kg office pannier.

What a waste of a decent bike.....

 

[ianrauk]

Your mate is talking complete rubbish.
Keep cycling regular and you keep fit as simple as that.

After 6 months of commuting of 18 miles a day, I found that commuting is easier than it used to be. I enjoy cycle at cursing speed (12mph) and in order to avoid injuries, I do not want to cycle faster.

The question arise here: is my daily commuting equivalent to moderate exercise (or even light exercise)?

According to the NHS, the definition of exercise are as follow:

Light exercise generally allows you to talk at the same time. Examples of light exercise include going for a walk, doing some light housework or gardening.

Moderate exercise should make you feel slightly out of breath. You should feel slightly worn out, but not to the point where it is unbearable. Examples of moderate exercise are going for a brisk walk or walking up a hill.

A friend of mine said what I am doing now cannot classed as exercise as it became a routine of my life, and exercise should be in addition of that, which I kind of agrees as I’m getting used to the commute, I am not out of breath nor feeling worn out, I didn’t break sweat, and I cannot feel the increase of my heart rate.

What do you guys think?

 

[palinurus]

, I am not out of breath nor feeling worn out, I didn’t break sweat, and I cannot feel the increase of my heart rate.

You could measure it though. If I'm wearing a monitor just reading sticks it up about 10 bpm (eight hours of that counts as a good workout in my book). Reading P&L posts puts it up about 25 (that's interval training).

 

[HobbesChoice]

Your mate is talking complete rubbish.
Keep cycling regular and you keep fit as simple as that.

+lots to that! Although I see where you and your friend get the logic of that explanation from, cycling 18 miles is still great exercise, whether your body is used to doing it or not. Otherwise your exercise routine would eventually become never ending!

 

[Davidc]

A friend of mine said what I am doing now cannot classed as exercise as it became a routine of my life

It becoming a part of your routine is exactly what the NHS and others are encouraging at present.

For some people exercise is a part of their job!

As ianrauk said, your friend is just plain wrong.

The definitions of exercise seem to be moving to new ones based on increases in metabolic rate, but I haven't understood these yet.

 

[Debian]

+1 tell your mate to do a 18 mile ride and see if it is not 'exercise'

+2!

Tell a pro biker in the Tour de France that because he can do 100+ miles a day at 25 mph he's not exercising!

 

[Moodyman]

Your friend has got a point Knonist.

The human body is immensely resilient and copes with changes well. This is why you no longer feel pain when you commute. Although you're fitter and stronger, your body views your daily ride as 'business as usual' rather than the pain that one associates with good exercise.

To vary it up, try adjusting your route or going for a slightly longer way round. If you keep the body in a constant state of turmoil, it never settles into that comfort zone that you're in. This is why I vary my commute with different routes - one shorter but hillier, the other longer but less hillier.

 

[on the road]

I can not afford to have any muscle injuries and cycling is my only way to get to work, in addition ,Knee injuries, injuries from potholes etc.

You're only likely to get those injuries if you're bike is not set up correctly. As for injuries from potholes, it's very easy to go around a hole.

 

[MacB]

you can up the speed and workrate and stay within yourself and avoid getting too hot and sweaty for work. You just need to do it in on the way home. Start out by hammering it for the last mile and gradually increase until you hammer it all the way home. By doing it at the end you'll be well warmed up so shouldn't be risking muscle injury. You'll soon see your 'non-sweaty' speed improve. I don't know that really fast is possible but certainly 14-15mph should be achievable.