As I’ve spent more time riding my bike lately, I’ve noticed there are some solid differences between biking and running. Aside from the obvious, (one is on wheels and much, much faster, while the other is on foot and can be slow as molasses) I’ve compiled some things I’ve noticed over that last couple weeks of biking adventures.
I was going to save this post until I had a decent amount of differences, but have instead decided to make it an ongoing post as I continue to discover more.
Biking vs. Running – Volume One
…according to an amateur.
1. A snot rocket while biking, is NOT THE SAME as a snot rocket while running. It takes much more effort and planning while on a bike. Fast moving winds will either love you or hate you. You have been warned.
2. Biking requires less wait time between meals and moves. Biking requires effort, but I find running to be more labor intensive. I can eat a carb heavy breakfast and be ready for a bike ride within 20 minutes.
New waffle recipe that I can’t stop making.
3. Biking makes you cry. Not emotionally, just physically. Going down a hill at 30 MPH (obvious exaggeration) makes you spit all the water from your eyes like you just rubbed them into a bowl of onions.
4. Biking allows you to slow down and savory the scenery. When I run I’m much more focused on not dying, which makes biking a calming treat.
Those COLORS!
5. Biking hurts your loins. I don’t think this needs much more explanation.
Must.Get.Acclimated.Faster.
6. It’s easier to eat while biking. My mind is always occupied by food, and I’m a sucker for a good multitask so this is wonderful. I will eat on longer runs, but with this I risk choking on my food while gasping like a suffocating hyena.
Banana lettuce wraps are a recent strange but good discovery.
7. Hills are easier on a bike. Or perhaps I should say more tolerable. Unless the road looks like a 110 degree angle, then it sucks just as hard as running. Here I thought I’d never use my 3rd grade math lessons, hooray.
8. Biking allows you to be more presentable in society. Don’t get me wrong, I give zero cares walking into a store dripping sweat and looking ratchet as ever after a good run, but biking to the store (or coffee shop) helps me look less like a tornado hit me.
Until next time, happy pedaling. Not to be mistaken with peddling, which is known as selling goods. Usually drugs. Like cookies. Those are addictive.
Q: What are some differences between two activities you enjoy?
Blissfulbritt 
61 thoughts on “How Biking Differs from Running – Vol. 1”
danaelizabethx
GREAT PICS!! I agree w/ EVERY point you made! 🙂 Running and biking both have their ups and down – I had a similar story while riding my bike, a bug flew into my mouth, I turned to spit and the wind took it right on my friends leg who was riding behind me –oops!! 🙂
Brittany
Ahhhahah omg. I once had a bug fly into my eye while running. That was annoying.
usabaker
Great post! I would rather run then bike though… But now that my doctor has demanded I break from running every 4th day i’m may have to dust off the bike. Bright side is I wont need snow tire and stud to ride since i’m in California.
bonnev659
great write up. i enjoy all the sports different and each one can have pros and cons to. and that waffle looks so good!
whostardis
how is that gingerbread larabar? i find gingerbread is not always good in bar form
Brittany
I liked it! The pumpkin pie one was waayyyy better, but I only found it once. Womp womp.
literaturemistress
The basic difference between biking and running for me: one I can easily do end even enjoy, the other makes me die. (In case it isn’t obvious: running makes me feel like my time has come.)
Also: Banana-lettuce wraps? Sounds like a must try as I like both of these things separately and never thought they’d go well together. Sadly I’m out of lettuce as of this lunch, so this experiment will have to wait.
pickyrunner
Hahah yep yep and yep. I will say though, I find running up hills a lot easier than biking for some reason. And I can’t eat on a bike because I’m too afraid to take my hands off the handlebars. I think both have their pros and cons.
Katie Pridgen
One thing I’ve noticed is that I tend to feel more tired after finishing a run than a bike ride, but I recover faster from runs than bike rides. So, after a run, I’ll collapse onto the couch in a heap but feel mostly recovered a few hours later. After a bike ride, I won’t be breathing all that hard and won’t need to sit down, but I have a lasting fatigue in my legs all day.
Shawna
beautiful pics as always, and i love your bike. this was so cute to read — snot rockets, food, all the “not dying” you focus on while running — you’re just all sorts of adorable.
allisonfiorini
YES TO ALL OF THIS! As someone who is also a cyclist, I was reading each one going, Yup, yup, yup, yup! Love it. I haven’t been on my bike enough lately. This inspired me!!! Thanks!
carrie
the snot rocket. YES! so easy while running, possibly disastrous when biking, especially if you’re biking with a companion. haha.
Brittany
Fortunately my bike rides have all been solo thus far, otherwise I may loose friends due to flying boogers. 😉
Angie
I love both biking and running! Have you ever done that annual biking from Seattle to Portland? If I ever go back to Seattle I plan on doing that. Shame I never did that when I lived there.
Brittany
The STP! I want to do it SOSOSO bad. I haven’t done it, but my dad has done it three times and it’s at the TOP of my fitness bucket list. ONE DAY I will….now that I have a bike my time is coming.
Angie
It’s on my bucket list, too!
_
As a runner who is VERY curious about biking, I loved this! Beautiful photos as well!
Amy
Ummmm yes. SO true to all of it. Especially the hills. I livd in the bike capital of the US for 6 years, and I hated the hills. Okay, so they were actually freeway overpasses because the town was so flat, but still… Biking up those overpasses was HARD. But I loved getting places a million times faster than if I had walked or ran!
evozeta
Totally agree!! And I actually know a couple of people who dodge bicycling because of the initial “getting-your-behind-trained” phase, they find it too painful and too slow to get over.
Since I’m in the U.S. I always feel like I’m about to risk life and limb when I go for a bike ride as there are almost zero bike lanes (at least down here in Texas… luckily Austin is a tad better than the rest of the state). In Switzerland it’s almost more bike lanes vs. car lanes 🙂
fionajarrett
Oh yes, to all. Especially the crying – my god, on windy days, it’s just constant. No doubt this makes me look all kinds of crazy as I whizz down hills, tears streaming down my face with an ear to ear grin 😀 but it’s too much fun going down a hill on your bike so I’m good with this! Wow, gingerbread larabars, I have to get some 🙂
kathy at more coffee, less talky
girl, you need to get padded bike shorts. when i rode my bike during the summer, i would do about 20K and then come home feeling like someone was kicking me in the vag for an hour. i borrowed my husband’s padded cycling shorts and wow, what a difference.
or, you can ghetto it and use one of those giant maxi pads from the 80s. i used to do that during spin class when i was in university because poor broke student.
Brittany
Ohhhh my god. I totally envisioned you wearing maxi pads in a spin class…holy hell. HAHA.
cravethecookbook
Love the post. I am slowly transitioning some mileage to biking from running because after 30 years of running (OMG did I say that!?) the hips are starting to wear. I do enjoy the mountain bike though as opposed to road biking. I don’t trust myself enough to do too much road biking. Looking forward to your next installment!
Diane @ Life of Di.
Oh how I miss biking. I’ve been doing a lot of running – well jogging – lately and I’ve been so excited to see my endurance build. I’m doing my first post-baby race next Thursday (Turkey Trot Five-Miler) and I can’t wait. That said, I just sent my mother-in-law a Christmas wishlist and was sure to include a bike seat for Charlotte on the list. Can’t wait to bike with her in the spring.
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
“It’s easier to eat while biking.” <– especially if you ride with your mouth open 😆 And you're giving me some serious cravings to go biking, lady! I've always kind of preferred biking over running, I think because it's not as hard on my joints (I have a busted up knee), and because it gets me to where I want to go faster.
Heather @ HeatherRunsFast.com
Cooking vs Eating Out… both can be therapeutic. Cooking lets me know what’s in the food I’m eating, eating out is easy. Both taste good- but in different ways. I like leisure biking and taking things in. I don’t do that when I’m running at home, but when I run when I travel I absolutely slow down and enjoy the ride- errrr run.
LWynalek
#3 and #8, so true! Biking to work… can still smell relatively normal. Running to work… probably not so much. Best perk of biking is, of course, fewer injuries and less pounding, which is beautiful. By the way, I just love your blog so much!
Brittany
Thank you for the comment!! Such a nice thing to say. 🙂 I need to start biking to work, that was on of my motives behind buying a bike. I live about 11 miles from my job, which isn’t far, but when I work at ungodly hours (4am) I don’t think biking at 3am is wise. HA.
Ellie
Hmm…I bike indoors so I don’t experience these things hahaha. I think biking can be good for recovery from running, but I would never run to recover from biking X-)
The two biggest differences between two activities I enjoy are reading books versus reading online. A book I can read the words on the page for hours. Online I feel like if the article is too long my eyes get tired. Maybe I just need more online reading endurance.
Brittany
Oh man, I can’t read on computers and things like Kindles. It’s just not good for my eyes. I much prefer actual books!
Luv What You Do
The biggest difference for me is that I can go so much further and see so much more on my bike. I love that! I also can take better pictures!
Rach @ This Italian Family
This makes me miss having a bike!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
I much prefer to take a bike out if I can going somewhere to enjoy the scenery. Running is too stressful for me to truly enjoy the view.
Kat
oh my goodness those colors! How gorgeous.
But a banana wrapped in lettuce? Im not so sure about that one girl…. 😉
Jess @hellotofit
Biking inside on a stationary spin bike is SO SO obviously different than going on a bike tour in the middle of Chinatown in Thailand…it was cray.
Nickk26
Brilliantly funny and all so true. Not sure I’m brave enough for the lettuce and banana, even though your photos tend to make everything look amazing!
Brittany
I can’t tell you where the odd craving combination came from, but I can tell you it was tasty with a dash of cinnamon. HAHA.
Thank you!
Arman @ thebigmansworld
Multitasking. You are amazing.
GiGi Eats Celebrities
This girl is amazing for just so many damn reasons. She should be arrested because it’s illegal!
Brittany
You two….staaaapppittt.
P
Biking does save SO much time! I just have issues with it because it requires its own equipment that I’m too lazy to invest in right now (helmet, u-lock, etc.) . Haha, maybe if I move someplace with cheaper rent next year, I’ll have enough to spare on a bike and its essentials, and experience all the wonderful things it has to offer 🙂
Bernard
Snot rocket…love it. So true.Sadly, you learn these things the hard way!
peanutbutterandellie
First of all, I love your pictures. Especially the first one.
Hmm… banana lettuce wraps. Not sure how I feel about that. Hehe.
Can you share the waffle recipe? It looks so yummy!!
I like biking because you can see more in a shorter amount of time! Right now I’m really into running though!
Brittany
Thank you! YES I will share the recipe, stay tuned!
Noemí
Stunning pictures!!! 😀 Thanks for sharing!
Allie Zottola
The colors on those trees, though! WOW! Also, I love the first photo of your bike. I always enjoy your photography! And I want your waffle recipe now…!
Brittany
You got it toots, I’ll share the recipe in another post!
BabetaRuns
Can you snot rocket? Really?!
If yes, I’m VERY jealous!
I keep trying and trying but nah… It’s a no go for me unless I feel like having snot all over my face 🙂
Brittany
I can…I really, really can. I still remember the first time I was successful. A guy friend of mine just told me to give it all I had, and I never looked back.
BabetaRuns
I guess you will HAVE to teach me!
Josh dV
You make some interesting points, though of course my experience is my own and a beautiful, unique snowflake in itself.
#2-I generally try to leave about 60 minutes of leeway between running and eating but about 30 min is a minimum. I have a cast-iron stomach though.
#3 Might not be an exaggeration. I’ve hit 24 mph on my knobbly old mountain bike so I’d bet your sleek little beauty is much faster.
#4 I’d argue that biking does not allow for as much of a slower pace to absorb the beauty around you or that it is less safe, unless you are biking out on the trails and do not have to worry about traffic as much.
#6 See #2. I can eat anything anytime, anywhere.
#7 I dunno. I think I have it easier going uphill than those bikers next to me. I find it easier to modulate my pace when I’m on my own two feet.
Please please please be safe! I was passed by a biker omw into work today and I caught up to him at an intersection where he had been hit by a car. Not his fault at all. Cars just aren’t looking for bikers.
I assessed him (I’m a nurse) and he was fine, just going to be very bruised and sore for a few days. The driver is going to be scared for a long time though.
Brittany
I will admit that 30 minutes is probably more wise for me when it comes to time between eating and moving, but only because when I eat…I EAT! HAhaaa. As for relaxation, YES I bike in areas where there are very few cars. When I bought the bike and had to ride it back to my car I was in ANXIETY CITY because I was in the heart of Seattle with cars EVERYWHERE. That was not relaxing.
I’ve purchased my lock, my lights, and a helmet. My next purchase which is just as important will be a helmet mirror. I’ve found the biggest struggle is not seeing the cars behind me. Must buy! Thank you for the caution, and I’m glad that guy was ok!
Josh dV
REI carries a bike mirror that clips on to your glasses for approx $15. I like it because then it isn’t tied to your helmet and you can switch between sunglasses or clear road glasses for the darkness.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I need to buy a bike. For more reasons than just me now. It seems like a good family (cough, weird, cough) activity.
I still haven’t perfected the art of the snot rocket even while running so it’s doubtful I will attempt it on a bike. I will however pack snacks for bike rides. In fact, I love the idea.
stateeats
I find my joints hurt much less after a bike ride than a run, but then again, I probably have a few (ahem) years on you! – Kat
Amy @ A Desert Girl
I LOVE your bike. It is so pretty.
And those fall colors – gorgeous, PNW…just gorgeous!
Jessica
Solid use of the word “rachet” my dear. And banana lettuce wraps? When will innovation end?!
bjscheirer
I love biking more than running. I’m not sure what is so “obvious” about #3’s exaggeration. That is perfectly doable on your bike. 😉 When I am riding with the kids in the trailer I need to hold myself back to 10 mph by shifting down my gears. I am looking forward to the time that they can keep up with me.
I guess I would share the differences between biking and running as well, but I can’t wait to see what you come up with next. One difference I’ll add is how the wind effects your movement. Wind makes biking much more difficult than it does running.
A Plus Attitude
I love both sports. Biking requires longer prep-time. Check the tires for air, load the bikes on the rack or in the car if you are biking away from home. Unload the bikes and gear once you arrive at your biking destination. Pack your water bottle, put on your helmet and load up the back pack or front pack with any food fuel. Repeat loading and unloading once you finished your ride. Oh, and don’t forget the bike lock. Running: wake up, use the bathroom, drink water, throw on running clothes(even if you wore them yesterday, doesn’t matter because no one is going to notice), grab your key and head out the front door. Speed is more fun on a bike, especially going down hill. It’s invigorating and you get the sense of flying.
Brittany
Yes!! Love the play by play’s. 🙂
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