Have you ever felt personally victimized by the seat on an indoor cycling bike? After several instances of finding no success in getting my butt comfortable on the seat of a stationary bike, I decided to focus on running. For a long time, that was the only way I worked on my cardio fitness. Until recently, that is.
A few months ago, I received an opportunity to test the NordicTrack Commercial S221 Studio Cycle exercise bike. Though I was apprehensive at first, given my track record with bike saddle discomfort, I ultimately decided to give it a shot. I don’t have a gym in my apartment building, and the ability to have equipment that allows me to work out any time without leaving home was alluring. I have a lot of friends who swear by cycling for strengthening their calves and thighs. So, curious about the impact of indoor cycling as a cross-training workout, I went forth.
Here’s what happened when I swapped running with indoor cycling for a month
After receiving the bike, I decided to add three days of cycling (as opposed to running) to the three days of strength training I was already doing and see what the outcome would be after one month. I was curious if I would actually notice a difference in my lower-body strength with this combination of exercise, as compared to the mix of strength-training and running I’ve been used to.