No, cycling isn’t always better than running. Running is associated with more physiological benefits than cycling. Studies to date indicate that running tends to be a more intense activity than cycling and therefore produces a greater metabolic response [3]. Furthermore, even though cycling and running are aerobic exercises that reduce risk of diseases such as cancer, and hypertension, running is weight-bearing which helps strengthen bones and increases energy expenditure [1, 2, 4].
That said, running isn’t right for everyone and there are plenty of other ways to stay active. For instance, those with osteoarthritis may not be well-suited for running, however, can still benefit from lower-impact activities like cycling and swimming, since it puts less strain on joints. Exercise should be tailored to each individual’s needs, goals, and skill set.
[1] Celis-Morales, C.A, Lyall, D.M., Welsh, P., et. al. (2017). Association between active commuting and incident cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality: prospective cohort study. BMJ 2017;357:j1456. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j1456
[2] Pedisic Z, Shrestha N, Kovalchik S, et alIs running associated with a lower risk of all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality, and is the more the better? A systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2020;54:898-905. https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/54/15/898.citation-tools
[3] Redkva, P. E., Miyagi, W. E., Milioni, F., & Zagatto, A. M. (2018). Anaerobic capacity estimated by the sum of both oxygen equivalents from the glycolytic and phosphagen pathways is dependent on exercise mode: Running versus cycling. PloS one, 13(9), e0203796. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203796
Williams P. T. (2012). Non-exchangeability of running vs. other exercise in their association with adiposity, and its implications for public health recommendations. PloS one, 7(7), e36360. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0036360
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