Weight bearing exercise

[Yellow Fang]

I have heard that cycling is not a weight bearing exercise, unlike running. As a consequence, it is not as good for retaining bone density in the legs? Is this true? What if you are standing on the pedals, like many cyclists do from time to time?

 

[Rob3rt]

I have heard that cycling is not a weight bearing exercise, unlike running. As a consequence, it is not as good for retaining bone density in the legs? Is this true? What if you are standing on the pedals, like many cyclists do from time to time?

Yes.

 

[Weeloubylou]

Hiya yellow fang, cycling is good for us in so many ways but yes its not a weight bearing exercise. Yes standing on your pedals can help, or creating more resistance with your gears but you've got to watch your knees. I follow coach Levi and my local gym also advised me to do body pump, I had lots of lean muscle but due to the lack of weight bearing exercise I had lost skeletal muscle, thankfully it didn't take that long to right it (with body pump and pushing my self on the hills)! If you don't fancy cross training with weights try running, there's lots of free apps that will help you follow a plan so you don't injure your self like run keeper.

 

[marzjennings]

Get a mountain bike and hit some rough trails. Plenty of weight bearing exercise and you're still cycling.

http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/bon/article/PIIS8756328201007049/abstract

 

[Spinney]

Weight bearing exercise is all about maintaining bone density, not muscle.
As the OP said...

According to this link, cycling can actually decrease bone density.
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/tipsandtricks/a/ExerciseandBones.htm