A month of sunset cycling: better than running?
A month of daily evening rides reveals the benefits of cycling over running: no joint impact, endorphins and a habit that becomes addictive. Is it the better choice?
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
A month of cycling at sunset: the ritual that hooks you without pounding your joints
Every evening, as the sun goes down, a cyclist sets off from home. He avoids the road, rides 10 km along greenways to a viewpoint, watches the sunset and rides back. Exactly one hour. He has been doing it for a month. And he has no intention of stopping.
The routine is simple: middle chainring and small sprocket, with big-chainring intervals when the legs respond. The route, always the same, has become a ritual that releases endorphins just like running, but without the impact that running causes on feet and joints. Pogre is gradual and, according to the rider, the feeling is "really good".
Why cycling beats running
The main argument is biomechanical: pedalling produces no repetitive impact, which prevents typical runner's injuries such as inflammation and foot discomfort. What's more, being a low-impact exercise, it allows longer sessions without joint fatigue. The psychological factor matters too: the repetition of the sunset and the familiar scenery reinforce commitment.
However, it is not all advantages. Summer heat can put you off going out, and safety depends on the environment. Those riding on the road face drivers who complain about dangerous manoeuvres by cyclists, and the coexistence with e-scooters fuels the regulatory debate. In Gijón, for example, they have been banned in the city centre.
The other side: cyclists and traffic, an unresolved tension
The debate reveals a rift between cycling as sustainable transport and cycling as sport. While some defend their right to the road, others point out that the risk of accidents —"a millisecond away from ruining a cyclist's day"— is real. For many, the solution lies in segregated greenways, like the ones used by the protagonist of this story.
The dilemma: urban cycling as a means of transport clashes with the reality of traffic. But on your own, along green paths at sunset, it remains one of the most underrated pleasures. And the endorphins never fail.
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Every evening, as the sun goes down, a cyclist sets off from home. He avoids the road, rides 10 km along greenways to a viewpoint, watches the sunset and rides back. Exactly one hour. He has been doing it for a month. And he has no intention of stopping.
The routine is simple: middle chainring and small sprocket, with big-chainring intervals when the legs respond. The route, always the same, has become a ritual that releases endorphins just like running, but without the impact that running causes on feet and joints. Pogre is gradual and, according to the rider, the feeling is "really good".
Why cycling beats running
The main argument is biomechanical: pedalling produces no repetitive impact, which prevents typical runner's injuries such as inflammation and foot discomfort. What's more, being a low-impact exercise, it allows longer sessions without joint fatigue. The psychological factor matters too: the repetition of the sunset and the familiar scenery reinforce commitment.
However, it is not all advantages. Summer heat can put you off going out, and safety depends on the environment. Those riding on the road face drivers who complain about dangerous manoeuvres by cyclists, and the coexistence with e-scooters fuels the regulatory debate. In Gijón, for example, they have been banned in the city centre.
The other side: cyclists and traffic, an unresolved tension
The debate reveals a rift between cycling as sustainable transport and cycling as sport. While some defend their right to the road, others point out that the risk of accidents —"a millisecond away from ruining a cyclist's day"— is real. For many, the solution lies in segregated greenways, like the ones used by the protagonist of this story.
The dilemma: urban cycling as a means of transport clashes with the reality of traffic. But on your own, along green paths at sunset, it remains one of the most underrated pleasures. And the endorphins never fail.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (60 replies).
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