Is commuting = Moderate exercise?

[swee'pea99]

As others have said, your friend is talking thru' his bumhole - just 'cos you're fit and have made it routine, doesn't mean cycling isn't exercise - and certainly moderate rather than 'light' exercise at that. 18 miles under your own steam is hardly on a par with ironing handkerchiefs or pricking out the lettuces.

 

[HJ]

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?

Of course it is Moderate exercise, the fact that you are not out of breath nor feeling worn out just show that you are gaining benefit from it and getting healthier. Just keep doing it

 

[WimbledonCyclist]

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[.]

That's a nice bit of circular reasoning by your friend. The advice is to incorporate exercise into your daily life. But once you do that, the activity is no longer "exercise" and you must do yet more activity. Once that extra activity becomes part of your life, it too ceases to be "exercise". Before you know it, you're onto several hours in the saddle a day, cycling your lungs out, and your friend will still be telling you it's not "exercise".

The point is that you've reached a good level of fitness through regular physical activity and you're doing enough to maintain that fitness level. Call your activity "exercise" or not, you're fit as you are.

 

[andyfromotley]

ermmmm, i know i am at risk here, but what is your commute like? If its pancake flat, little stopping and starting and on a decent bike then at those speeds it might well be light exercise? (still excellent exercise though)

The simple way to tell is to borrow a heart rate monitor. That will tell you precisely how hard youre exercising. (if youre stuck i will post you mine to use)

andy

 

[psmiffy]

Its fairly easy to tell if what is excercise - Does it use extra calories - It does not matter if your body is used to it - if it needs extra fuel then its excercise

Personally while I know that my utility cycling is moderate I only count it for the purposes of totting up as easy - target of 40mins moderate and 40mins easy excercise on average each day - At present due to injuries I am not getting the moderate and the some of the easy - weight is becoming difficult to control

 

[swee'pea99]

ermmmm, i know i am at risk here, but what is your commute like? If its pancake flat, little stopping and starting and on a decent bike then at those speeds it might well be light exercise? (still excellent exercise though)

The simple way to tell is to borrow a heart rate monitor. That will tell you precisely how hard youre exercising. (if youre stuck i will post you mine to use)

andy

That's a kind offer but...get real! Light exercise is defined as - and I quote - "going for a walk, doing some light housework or gardening."

going for a walk = cycling 18 miles
some light housework = cycling 18 miles
a bit of gardening = cycling 18 miles

I think not...

 

[summerdays]

I never seem to reach fit then - my heart rate is always increased by cycling the first 400 m to the lights, and no my average speed isn't great - too many hills, junctions, traffic lights etc. I must get around to using a HRM to see what it is really doing.

 

[Moodyman]

Andy from Otley - if you get not takers for your computer/heart rate monitor, I'll take it off you.

I'm only down the road.

 

[potsy]

I'd certainly say it was 'moderate' for me,don't get to work shattered but try to push a bit more on the way home(was easier on shift work as roads were quieter)

 

[andyfromotley]

i dont know sweet pea. riding at 12mph for 45 minutes on a flat road, little to stop you (hence not making you expend energy getting back up too speed) on a light bike even with the addition pf rack and panniers could easily equate to light exercise as per the definition given

The OP says he doesnt sweat, doesnt sound like hes getting out of breath.

The latest thinking on exercise zones tends to focus upon perceived effort (how hard do you feel the exercise is), on a scale of 1 very easy trhough to 10 very hard. So i would ask the OP to rate his commute himself. above 4 i say is moderate, below 4 light. (4 dead who knows??)

As i said though the simple thing is to use a HRM this can ell you all sorts of things about how hard your heart is working.

I dont in anyway want to denigrate the exercise the OP is doing, i just thought it was an interesting topic.

andy

 

[Arch]

I'd like to know how much exercise this 'friend' is doing - are they running marathions every week (increasing the number of marathons each week of course, as they get used to it)? Or are they incapable of riding 8 miles, let alone 18....

18 miles sounds moderate to me. Even if not getting out of breath, it's keeping the muscles moving and the joints supple. Exercise isn't all about the heart, although it'll also be helping to keep the circulation good....

 

[cyberknight]

So your mate thinks that professional athletes don't not get exercise then as its part of their routine.......

 

[Alien8]

So your mate thinks that professional athletes don't not get exercise then as its part of their routine.......

No - what his mate is saying is if there is no exertion there is no exercise.

The length of the ride has nothing to do with whether the exercise is light or moderate.

The OP says that now on his ride he is not out of breath nor feeling worn out, doesn't break sweat, and cannot feel an increase in his heart rate.

That would suggest light exercise from the OP's perspective but for someone else the same exercise may be a ride to cardiac city.

 

[jonny jeez]

I think your "friend" may be a little jealous that you are getting into shape while he/she is not.

Cycling is very good excersise...if it wasnt, explain all the "whippet" type riders that you see on the way into work.

More accuratley, with a absence of nearly 6 weeks I can tell you that my fitness levels have been massivly effected by cycling, I was clearly very much fitter than before and have proved iot to myself during some recent sporting activity.

Ignore others keep up the "cursing speed" and stick at it....good for you

btw how fast do you have to go to curse?

 

[Norm]

The OP says that now on his ride he is not out of breath nor feeling worn out, doesn't break sweat, and cannot feel an increase in his heart rate.

That would suggest light exercise from the OP's perspective but for someone else the same exercise may be a ride to cardiac city.

+1 to that.

Ignore others keep up the "cursing speed" and stick at it....good for you

btw how fast do you have to go to curse?

I linked the "cursing speed" with the desire to avoid injury. In other words, slow down and chill and you won't get wound up by a close pass and WVM is less likely to be having at you with a wheel brace.