Fitness

Matlock4068

I have two bikes (for historical reasons); one is a hub gear bike with seven gears and fairly wide tyres; the other is a road bike with flat bars, thin tyers, 21 gears etc. The latter I find extremely fast when commuting, the former hard work up hills, leaving me with sweat pouring down my face. However my question is this- which one is doing me the most good fitness wise? The hard work bike or the lighter faster one?

fossyant

They both should be the same if you are trying hard enough - more speed gains on the road bike, but if you use the same effort then no reason why both can't get you just as fit.

fluff.

Whichever one makes you want to ride more?

Max Weber

The faster bike should make pushing yourself harder more enjoyable, unless you really enjoy going slow. You don't see the pros training on £80 full-sus clunkers from Tesco or fully laden touring bikes with a trailer.

McBain_v1

Matlock, if you want to do some resistance training why not hit the gym and get doing some proper squats instead of riding your heavy bike :?: I'd stick with the light bike because you get up to decent speeds - which will demand better riding skills - and also because going quick is fun![/b]