Roller Blades or Bikes?
 

Well.... im trying to find a healthy alternative to running. I lift weights 4-5 days a week and i really need some cardio also but i absoloutely hate to run. I use to bike, and skate all the time, but i havent done it in a while. So i'm gonna start looking for either a new bike and/or new rollerblades. Anyone have any suggestions as to which would be better cardio? Both of these i would be getting road / street versions; example: road / racing bike or road / racing rollerblades, not mountain / bmx / street skates. soooo.... anyone here rollerblade or bike often and have some recommendations and such? Any info is appreciated.... also, i dont wanna spend alot of money, im a student on a budget and saving for a car, so the less expensive the better.

Get a bike, you can go further, sit down downhills and not get tripped up at every little imperfection on the road.

Edit: You can also do some really great 'angry' workouts on a bike, i've just got back from one. Bad day so went out and pushed myself very hard, got some quite good speeds up and now i feel much happier.
If i'd tried to have done that on skates most likely i'd have thrown them into traffic by now.

i would go for a nice bike too.....

its about your output not what you are using.

I would say bike. Check craigslist for some used bikes for sale in your neighborhood.

I tried this switch quite a few years back. I like the speed of a bike, but it's much more difficult to get a cardio workout without traveling outside city limits. Also, depending on where, bikes can be hazardous just because of idiots who don't see you. The more time you spend on them the more often crap happens. IMO variety is best. I ended up taking 3 or 4 trips each week up to a reservoir area with big hills. The roads were bad enough that cars were rare, and one hill was a 30min workout in itself.

On other days, in the same time it took me to load up the bike and get to the reservoir and back, I could run 5 miles and make/eat dinner. :/

Either option would be just fine. Just make sure you put out and have yourself a good workout.

Well... I can't remember the last time I saw a pair of roller blades.

Maybe just where I am from, but they are really 'out'.

Running is prob the best for time, but biking you can go much further.

Im big into cycling. Feel free to PM me if you want more info on it.

I find I enjoy cycling much more because I feel like I'm accomplishing much more--going farther and faster. Plus, its a lot of fun bombing down a hill or pushing yourself up a climb.

I would suggest a bike. I have both, but prefer riding my bike. It helps if you have good equipment too. I would not suggest going to Walmart for a bike. Go to a good bike shop and find one that fits you. You can find a good one that will last for less than $600. Trek,Gary Fisher,Giant and Specialized are a few good ones for starers.

You will get a better full-body workout on blades. you'll get some arm movement in that way, and strenthen your core muscles by keeping balanced. That said...I ride a bike. I'm just not into rollerblading, it is really not practical for me, but it WOULD be a better workout :)

i would suggest a bike as well, but then again i work at a bike shop, ride bikes, occasionally race bikes...so I'm a bit partial.

PM me if you have any bike questions I can answer for you.

I love bikes. Also, you can do spin classes year round at a gym and get an absolutely awesome cardio workout, I can drop 1000-1200 calories in a one hour class using a heart monitor.

Another factor to consider is the availability of smooth roads to roller blade by your house - as where a bike can (usually) go over any terrain. I'm in downtown Montreal and there are great paved paths to rollerblade, but the roads are pot-holed and the sidewalks are too busy. So I use the bike wherever I need to go. Plus you can bike in poor weaher (rain/snow) in which it would be difficult to in rollerblades.
Besides if this is going to be a replacement for a car, I'ld suggest the bike just like most of everyone here.

Bike.

I like bikes - now the weather's better, I really ought to get mine out the shed.

Bike definatlely, I've got two, and one set of rollerblades. I use a bike almost every day, while I haven't used my blades in....damn... going on a few years now.

I would say it depends on what muscles you want to use, whether you want to focus on using the whole body, or just the lower body, as well as how long you plan to do a cardio workout.
I personally prefer using roller blades to my bike because then I use a whole lot more muscles instead of focusing on my leg muscles. But that's just me, I think I prefer it because I used to skate a lot.
My roller blades have lasted quite a few years now, and were about $75. I would say rollerblades are less expensive than a bike, and I personally find that I get more out of roller blading than biking.
Hope something I said helped you out. :P Feel free to PM me if you want to talk about it.

bikes are faster.

zooom!


:p

I have both, and let me tell you- I get a much better workout in a shorter time on blades- they take a lot more out of you.

If you want a leisurley workout and have an hour or more to spare- biking is for you.

However, if you want a much harder sweat-pouring-down-your-face muscles-want-to-explode type of workout, I suggest blades. It takes a lot to propel yourself on rollerblades. As for street imperfections- sure, you can't go over any potholes, but most bumps are okay depending on your speed. Might I suggest pads?

Actually, get both- you can get a good pair of exercise rollerblades for around $60. I would go all out on the bike, though- it is a good investment.