Roller Blades or Bikes? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

zxello · 05-22-2005, 10:46 PM

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.

stevie667 · 05-23-2005, 03:36 AM

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.

G5_Todd · 05-23-2005, 03:50 AM

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

st33lr4t · 05-23-2005, 06:37 AM

its about your output not what you are using.

kurty[B] · 05-23-2005, 07:51 AM

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

cyrnel · 05-23-2005, 08:01 AM

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. :/

mokle · 05-23-2005, 09:51 AM

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

Vincentt · 05-23-2005, 11:05 AM

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.

sailor · 05-23-2005, 12:39 PM

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.

dman2 · 05-24-2005, 02:11 PM

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.

TopRamen66 · 05-25-2005, 06:15 PM

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

Ilow · 05-25-2005, 07:32 PM

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.

thingstodo · 05-26-2005, 10:20 AM

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.

Loup · 05-28-2005, 05:46 AM

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.

Daniel_ · 05-28-2005, 12:36 PM

Bike.

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

greyeyes · 06-03-2005, 09:12 AM

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.

settie · 06-03-2005, 11:14 AM

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.

SiN · 06-03-2005, 01:12 PM

bikes are faster.

zooom!

Rubyee · 06-23-2005, 08:44 AM

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.

05-22-2005, 10:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
zxello Addict Location: P-Town, WA	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. __________________ Old signature just wasn't doing it for me anymore, so now I have this new one. It's equally as stupid but at least it looks really long. I'm probably just going to keep typing until I run out of things to babble about and see how many people actually read this. I once ran down a hill, fell down and hurt my elbow; my mom said I would be ok, she kissed it and made it all better. I've run out of things to say now, so if you have read this whole thing, congratulations you get a gold star!

05-23-2005, 03:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
stevie667 Too Awesome for Aardvarks Location: Angloland	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. __________________ Office hours have changed. Please call during office hours for more information. Last edited by stevie667; 05-23-2005 at 10:05 AM..

05-23-2005, 03:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
G5_Todd Junkie Location: Reichstag	i would go for a nice bike too..... __________________ "....and when you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." -General Franks

05-23-2005, 08:01 AM	#6 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	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. :/ __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

05-23-2005, 09:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
mokle Psycho Location: Alberta, Canada	Either option would be just fine. Just make sure you put out and have yourself a good workout. __________________ Mokle "Your hands can't hit what your eyes can't see" -Ali

05-23-2005, 06:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
st33lr4t Psycho Location: Dallas, Tx	its about your output not what you are using.

05-23-2005, 07:51 AM	#5 (permalink)
kurty[B] Sauce Puppet	I would say bike. Check craigslist for some used bikes for sale in your neighborhood.

05-23-2005, 11:05 AM	#8 (permalink)
Vincentt Addict Location: Tokyo, Japan	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. __________________ .

05-23-2005, 12:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
sailor beauty in the breakdown Location: Chapel Hill, NC	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. __________________ "Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws." --Plato

05-24-2005, 02:11 PM	#10 (permalink)
dman2 Insane Location: Georgia	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. __________________ I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing. ~Marsha Doble

05-25-2005, 06:15 PM	#11 (permalink)
TopRamen66 Insane	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

05-25-2005, 07:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
Ilow Junkie Location: Pats country	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. __________________ "Religion is the one area of our discourse in which it is considered noble to pretend to be certain about things no human being could possibly be certain about" --Sam Harris

05-26-2005, 10:20 AM	#13 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	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. __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.

05-28-2005, 05:46 AM	#14 (permalink)
Loup Pup no More Location: Voted the Best	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. __________________ "If you cannot lift the load off another's back, do not walk away. Try to lighten it." ~ Frank Tyger

05-28-2005, 12:36 PM	#15 (permalink)
Daniel_ Evil Priest: The Devil Made Me Do It! Location: Southern England	Bike. I like bikes - now the weather's better, I really ought to get mine out the shed. __________________ ╔═════════════════════════════════════════╗ Overhead, the Albatross hangs motionless upon the air, And deep beneath the rolling waves, In labyrinths of Coral Caves, The Echo of a distant time Comes willowing across the sand; And everthing is Green and Submarine ╚═════════════════════════════════════════╝

06-03-2005, 01:12 PM	#18 (permalink)
SiN strangelove Location: ...more here than there...	bikes are faster. zooom! __________________ - + - ° GiRLie GeeK ° - + - ° 01110010011011110110111101110100001000000110110101100101 Therell be days/When Ill stray/I may appear to be/Constantly out of reach/I give in to sin/Because I like to practise what I preach

06-03-2005, 09:12 AM	#16 (permalink)
greyeyes ham on rye would be nice Location: I don't even know anymore	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'm kind of jealous of the life I'm supposedly leading. - Zach Braff

06-03-2005, 11:14 AM	#17 (permalink)
settie Junkie	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.

06-23-2005, 08:44 AM	#19 (permalink)
Rubyee I'm baaaaack!	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. __________________ You don't know from fun.