|
i would think riding outside is a bit more of a workout due to all the variables. wind, steep grades, road surface, all give you variable amounts of resistance that you dont get on a stationary unless you are constantly changing the settings. you can hammer for 30 minutes at a certain setting and your body will get used to it. but going against the wind, then riding down a hill, then up a hill, then on a smooth surface etc etc forces your body to react and never quite get on autopilot mode. i think you end up burning more calories on the road, if for no other reason you end up riding longer.
for what it's worth, i was out mountain biking with a guy who claimed he was a spinning instructor. i dropped him like 3rd grade calculus. he may have been used to the stationary workout routine, but on the ground riding a bike up a hill he was having a hard time.
that said, i've done both. if you can, why not do both. as thespian pointed out, the stationary bike does give you a consistent, regimented workout and is great in shitty weather.
__________________
onward to mayhem!
|