Why can't runners cycle quickly

[Cathryn]

This is my second post today including a link to something I read, so sorry about this.

I recently found this article by a guy who does a podcast on ultra running, who has started doing a series of articles about cycling for runners. I'm a runner who's getting back into cycling, so it felt fitting. In the article, he explains why runners (especially women) aren't particularly fast cyclists. I'd be interested in your views?

http://iancorless.org/2015/08/06/cycling-for-runners-why-cant-runners-cycle-quickly/

 

[summerdays]

I'm not a runner (I HATE running), but found the article interesting, and could probably tick the female lacking leg strength box. Perhaps I do reach for the shifter far too easily

 

[DaveReading]

At last, the excuse I've been looking for to explain my slow speed on the bike!

 

[nickyboy]

Is this guy serious?

6. When runners complete cycle testing sessions we commonly hear this: “My heart and lungs felt fine, it’s just my legs, I couldn’t turn the pedals, there was too much resistance”

2. To use bigger gears you need to have the basic leg strength (often lacking in runners, moreso ladies)

4. Pretty much all studies on the subject show that slower cadences use less oxygen, results in lower heart rate and require less fuel than higher cadences

This stuff is just nonsense

 

[Cathryn]

At last, the excuse I've been looking for to explain my slow speed on the bike!

My very thoughts

 

[Cathryn]

Is this guy serious?

6. When runners complete cycle testing sessions we commonly hear this: “My heart and lungs felt fine, it’s just my legs, I couldn’t turn the pedals, there was too much resistance”

2. To use bigger gears you need to have the basic leg strength (often lacking in runners, moreso ladies)

4. Pretty much all studies on the subject show that slower cadences use less oxygen, results in lower heart rate and require less fuel than higher cadences

This stuff is just nonsense

Why do you think that?

 

[raleighnut]

Surely with running if you go uphill you use a shorter stride which is similar to using a lower gear on a bike, cadence remains roughly the same.
A more accurate test would be increasing the resistance in both cases.

 

[DRHysted]

All that report tells me is that I'm cycling & running incorrectly.

Well why change the habit of a lifetime.

 

[Milkfloat]

There are a few world class duathletes and triathletes that may disagree with this too.

 

[Crackle]

His basic premise from which he expands seems wrong. Sure if you run the same pace around a track he might have a point but if you run on trails, uphill, do sprints, fartlek etc you surely alter the resistance on your legs and the muscles groups you use. When it comes to cycling you don't transfer that strength completely and have to build the same as running. And the especially women bit, what twaddle, why? It mostly seems nonsense with some truth hiding in there about runners adapting to cycling.

 

[sidevalve]

So let's be accurate here - he says that a runner [male or female] can't just jump on a bike and pedal off like a TDF winner ? Just simple common sense to me - train in one sport and then wonder why you aren't top notch in something else ? Get real.

 

[summerdays]

Is the women bit because ladies don't like to have big muscly legs? Although, in all seriousness, one or two women have said to me in the past that that was why they didn't take up cycling.

I don't want big muscular legs, it makes it harder to get clothes sometimes, but I could also help that issue by loosing some fat too . Though I would say runners seem to have slimmer thighs.

 

[Crackle]

Is the women bit because ladies don't like to have big muscly legs? Although, in all seriousness, one or two women have said to me in the past that that was why they didn't take up cycling.

Maybe but there are plenty of pictures of Victoria Pendleton which prove otherwise.

 

[moo]

Is this guy serious?
..
4. Pretty much all studies on the subject show that slower cadences use less oxygen, results in lower heart rate and require less fuel than higher cadences

This stuff is just nonsense

Indeed.

Slower cadence (at the same power level) uses less oxygen but MORE fuel. Oxygen is plentiful, glycogen stores are not.

 

[Cuchilo]

If runners did squats they would cycle better