Level of exertion, cycling vs. distance running?

[jazzcyclist]

I guess I can see your point if you know you don't have the self-discipline, but that's never been a problem for me. The number of times in my life that I didn't complete an planned workout (running, cycling, weight-lifting, etc.) after I got started can be counted on one hand, and those were due to injury or some other type of physical ailment. However, I will admit that there have been plenty of times that I've cancelled planned workouts, but once I get started, the entire workout is as good as done.

My biggest reasons for not taking my saddle of my bike to do such a workout would be practical reasons. Whenever I need to unclip to stop for a traffic light or stop sign, I like to do it from a seated position. I've never unclipped standing up, but I'm guessing that it could be very painful if you didn't do it right.

[26mi235]

Koch preceded clips, he was in the toe-clip era. The thing about not having the seat seems fundamentally different than the workout choices that you are talking about.

[Conor Dary]

If you are going to remove the seat, you definitely want to also remove the post.

I would say that is a given....

[jazzcyclist]

The thing about not having the seat seems fundamentally different than the workout choices that you are talking about.

I've never done an entire back ride out of the saddle, but I have done plenty of workouts in which I was constantly battling the urge to surrender before I was finished. I guess we'll just have to respectfully disagree on the significance of removing the seat post. To me that's a trick of the mentally weak.

[bambam]

Koch preceded clips, he was in the toe-clip era. The thing about not having the seat seems fundamentally different than the workout choices that you are talking about.

Getting out of the pedals in the toe clip was much more difficult than with clip-ins.

[KevinM]

To me that's a trick of the mentally weak.

All athletes have mental weaknesses, and we all use tricks to get around them, no matter the extent to which we might puff up our chests claiming otherwise.

[skyin' brian]

so, which one of you should I blame if next time I go for a ride I fall down attempting to unclip while standing up?

I actually have seen a guy riding without a seat post before. His large chainring was pretty big.

Have you seen those elliptigo contraptions? Sort of an elliptical trainer/bicycle hybrid, maybe that would be good for someone that doesn't like to sit.

[TN1965]

Have you seen those elliptigo contraptions? Sort of an elliptical trainer/bicycle hybrid, maybe that would be good for someone that doesn't like to sit.

Elliptigo is used by many elite athletes as a cross training tool, including Lauren Fleshman, Julie Culley and Magdalena Lewy Boulet.

I have also heard that there are elliptigo races and Adam Goucher was a recent participant.

[bambam]

I actually have seen a guy riding without a seat post before. His large chainring was pretty big.

About 10 years ago in New Hampshire was riding a mountainous course, and still had two 3,000 foot climbs, and about 12 miles, to go, when my front derailleur broke with the chain fixed on the big ring. That was a killer workout, trying to get over those climbs on the big ring. Had to walk a little bit of the second climb. Do not recommend this.

[Vielleicht]

I also tried using an eclliptical trainer to build cardiovascular fitness for a half-marathon race in order to save my knee injury from flaring before it. And half way into it my calves felt shot just as Mr. TN1965 did.