Which uses the most energy- walking, running or cycling?

Question

OK it is commonly thought that it uses just as much energy to WALK a mile as it does to RUN a mile. But when you bring a bicycle into the equation, how does it stack up? Does riding a bicycle use as much energy as walking, or less? ...Because it feels as though it uses a LOT less.

Obviously it is easier to cycle a modern, well maintained bicycle than an old, rusty one. But how much reisitance would a poorly maintained bicycle have to give before it made more sense to get off and walk- given that you would still be PUSHING that poorly maintained bicycle?

Answer 1

Here is the chart from the Centers for Disease Control. The actual answer depends on how fast you run, walk or cycle.

Calories/Hour Expended in Common Physical Activities

Moderate Physical ActivityApproximate Calories/Hr
for a 154 lb Person1
Hiking 370
Light gardening/yard work 330
Dancing 330
Golf (walking and carrying clubs) 330
Bicycling (<10 mph) 290
Walking (3.5 mph) 280
Weight lifting (general light workout) 220
Stretching 180

Vigorous Physical ActivityApproximate Calories/Hr
for a 154 lb Person1
Running/jogging (5 mph) 590
Bicycling (>10 mph) 590
Swimming (slow freestyle laps) 510
Aerobics 480
Walking (4.5 mph) 460
Heavy yard work (chopping wood) 440
Weight lifting (vigorous effort) 440
Basketball (vigorous) 440

1Calories burned per hour will be higher for persons who weigh more than 154 lbs (70 kg) and lower for persons who weigh less.
Source: Adapted from Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005.

Answer 2

I think running uses up more energy per hour, but I can cycle a hell of a lot longer than I can run, or walk for that matter. At the end of the day I burned more total calories on a bike simply because I love it and I actually get out there and do it.

Answer 3

Running

Answer 4

Distance, when it comes to exercise is basically irrelevant. Three miles to one person may be difficult and to another person it might not take any effort whatsoever.
What is important is your level of exertion and the amount of time you spend at that level.
Intensity can be measured with heart rate, perceived rate of exertion, which is surprisingly accurate if one is honest, or in some sports like cycling it can be measured in watts or joules.
Without getting too technical, the higher your exertion, the more calories you will burn, but the higher your effort the less your body will use fat as fuel and the fuels used are finite and can run out quickly.
Bottom line: if it takes 45 minutes to walk three miles and 20 minutes to ride it you'll burn more calories walking.
Riding might be more calories if you rode the same amount of time depending on how efficient you are at it. This is why people cross-train. After a certain amount of time you'll get better at an activity and it won't take as much effort or burn as many calories. Switching from 45 minutes of running to 45 minutes of cycling or rollerblading or tennis, etc. at the same intensity will keep you making progress in your weight loss program.
Another rule of thumb for athletes is that if you're doing the same workout as three weeks ago you need to change it.
I hope this helps.

Answer 5

Intensity plays the biggest part. You can walk quite quickly and use a lot of energy, you can bicycle quite slowly and use little energy. It's harder to vary the intensity of running and the "window" is smaller.

Running requires accelerating the body vertically so that you can spend some time with both feet in the air (look at videos of people running) and then decelerating it at the end of each pace. Those two actions require more force and more energy than defeating wind resistance. Force = mass X acceleration, you have to accelerate your mass slightly faster than gravity, the force required for a 150 pound person is a bit more than 150 pounds (think about it). Similarly, you have to exert about 150 pounds with the landing leg at the end of each pace.

Walking requires much less energy because you are using forward momentum and a stiff landing leg to "pole vault" from one step to the next. Wind resistance is also much lower.

I want to add that if you are bicycling the mass of the bicycle only matters when you are accelerating or climbing. On flat ground rolling resistance matters, but not the mass of the bicycle.

Answer 6

Running, no question about it. In cycling, you can rest and still be moving because the bike has wheels. And walking is much more slower than running, generally, the faster you go, the more energy you expend.

Answer 7

You don’t need to exercise for hours on end. Short, sharp sets of exercise will produce better results in case you work hard. Get a passing up rope, skip for two min's, do push ups for 1 minute, skip for two minutes, rest first minute. Then change the push nearly something else like sit ups in addition to do the set again. Repeat it five times and it’s a simple, effective workout that will improve results than a long run or swim.

Answer 8

I would say running uses more energy than anything else... you are burning the most energy by running too as it is the fastest way to burn calories. Bicycle only uses your legs whereby you are putting in most of your energy by using your legs and arms with running.

Answer 9

I think its running.
I think you tend to sweat quicker and harder when you run.

I notice the celebrities that look anorexic, or have lost LOTS of wieght (male or female) are always photographed running.

I do agree that cycling with an older bike burns lots of energy as well.

People usually give up and start pushing when going uphill. I think people start to push bikes because of pain, not because theyre necesarily tired.

Once they start to go down hill, or hit even pavement, they get right back on and ride again and actually feel relieved to be sitting down! : ) Just my opinion though.

Answer 10

You don’t need to exercise for long periods of time. Short, sharp sets of exercise will produce better results if you work hard. Get a passing up rope, skip for two a few minutes, do push ups for 60 seconds or so, skip for two minutes, rest for starters minute. Then change the push up to something else like sit ups and also do the set again. Repeat it five times and it’s a simple, effective workout that will improve results than a long work or swim.