Quality Workout: Biking vs. Walking, which is Better?

Everyone now knows the importance of working out, the young, the old, men, women, big, small, everyone wants to exercise in one way or the other. No one is debating how important exercise is anymore, but one major topic of argument is whether Biking or Walking is the better way of working out. In all honesty, every type of exercise helps, but you are probably wondering- biking and walking, which is better? Well, so many factors influence the answer to this question. Let’s analyse both Biking and Walking in detail so that you can get your answer.

Biking vs. Walking

Both Biking and Walking are great workout options; they both help the body in their own way and add to excellent body fitness. However, the effects of both exercises on the body aren’t quite the same. Here is a comparison of the differences in the impact of Biking and Walking on the body.

Calorie Burn.

How easily you burn Calories depends on many factors, like Body Weight, exercise intensity, and environmental factors, among others.  Biking and Walking are both good ways of easily burning calories. Studies have, however, shown differences in the amount of calories burned you can achieve with each of them. 

This table shows how much a person weighing 150 pounds would approximately burn in 30 minutes of each session of biking and walking: (This analysis was obtained from using the CUErgo METS to Calories Calculator)

Looking at this table, it is obvious that Biking helps burn more calories than Walking does.

Muscle Build

Biking and Walking make use of almost the same muscles, namely the calves, hamstrings, quads, and glutes. They both make use of these muscles in different ways, but Biking tends to work your muscles harder because you usually need to use your muscles more to be able to exert more force for speed and movement on rugged terrains and mountains. 

Effects on the Joint

Good Joint Impact is usually recorded during biking and cycling because both activities involve the use of several joints in the body. Notably, Walking is known to impact your joints more because your body experiences a larger pressure directly on them when you walk. When riding a bike, some joints are not involved due to your sitting position- the handlebars handle some of the pressure.

Oxygen Absorption

One of the effects of exercise is that it helps keep the level of your body’s oxygen absorption in check, which contributes greatly to your body’s overall fitness. Biking and Walking are great exercises that help the body’s Oxygen Absorption level, but Biking does it way better because you can easily get more speed when biking, which simultaneously increases your body’s cardiovascular activities, ultimately increasing your body’s Oxygen Absorption level.

Strength Build

Studies have not been able to show the link between Walking and strength building, but there have been studies that indicate that cycling could help build muscular strength. Biking has been noted to help old people improve issues of muscle loss and also increase muscle mass in younger people.

Weight Loss

Biking helps burn more calories than walking, so this definitely makes a faster way of losing weight than Walking, since weight loss works by increasing calorie burn. Walking, however, tends to be a very effective means of weight loss because it is easier for everyone to walk anywhere, at any time of their choice- you don’t need to have a bike before you are able to work. Though Biking helps achieve faster weight loss than walking, it is much easier for people to be consistent with walking than Biking.

Easy Access

Walking is more accessible. You do not have to worry about needing a trainer before you are able to exercise; you can just stay in your room and walk around your home, even if you do not have a treadmill.  For Biking, you can also ride indoors, but you definitely need to have a bike before you can exercise.

Progression Tracking

With Biking, you get to always work on your progression and make improvements now and then, as there are lots of biking skills and new training you experience over time. Walking doesn’t really involve special skills and progression. So yes, Biking gives you more room for consistency and long-term progress.

Biking vs. Walking, which one is for you?

Now that we have gone through the comparison of both Biking and Walking, choosing the right one for you will depend on you! Both are very effective exercises, easy to do, and enjoyable. Biking might be the best option for you if you are a commuter who has to go to work every day. You can just replace public car transportation with your bike and enjoy your workout to and from work. Also, if you are an adventurous person who loves to go to the mountains, visit nearby towns and communities, you definitely would enjoy biking exercises. If you do not have a bike and still want to enjoy an easy, effective exercise, walking is perfect too. Walking lets you work out anywhere, anytime. In short, your choice depends on what you like- or you can even combine both exercises if you want. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irvsseUOKtU

Electric Bikes you should try

One thing that would make you enjoy biking is having a very good bike. If you choose Biking as your workout routine, try using an electric bike. They are packed with awesome features that make them very easy to use, they can move on rugged terrains smoothly, and they give you a confident and interesting Ride. Here are some E-Bikes you must have:

ENGWE EP-2 BOOST Fat Tire Foldable E-Bike.

Do you love something easy to carry and rugged enough to ride on mountains and hills? This one is for you! It’s a foldable bike that comes with a boost feature that allows you to smoothly climb uphill.

ENGWE P275 SE City E-Bike

Just look at this beauty! This IP54-rated Water Protection Bike gives you the durability and confidence you need to enjoy your rides on city streets and all other terrains. It is also the perfect bike for women who love to ride.

ENGWE LE20 Super Range Step Through Cargo E-Bike

 This one is a beast! It is designed to safely carry your loads, gear, and even an extra passenger. This bike has a Cargo function that makes it the perfect choice for family trips. It is highly durable.

Try buying one of ENGWE E-Bikes today, you definitely will want to keep riding all day long. You get to experience a confident and fun-filled workout.