Anything as (or near) good as cycling?

[dontazame]

I got back into road biking in a serious way two years ago. Still surprised how good it is for overal health and welbing. Regret not doing it earlier. I often wonder if there is something else right under my nose that I am currently ignoring, and will regret not picking up earlier.

[KonaCommuter]

I got back into road biking in a serious way two years ago. Still surprised how good it is for overal health and welbing. Regret not doing it earlier. I often wonder if there is something else right under my nose that I am currently ignoring, and will regret not picking up earlier.

Running and Swimming to balance it out?

[il padrone]

Kayaking or rowing. Great for upper body work-out.

Cross-country skiing is very, very similar to cycling - aerobic, solid work-out on the climbs, excitement on the descents. You even have parallels in ski-touring (cycletouring), skating (road riding) and XCD/telemarking (MTB trail riding/DH). I use a lot of my winter cycling clothing (tights, windstopper fleece jackets, full gloves) for XC skiing.

[Daus]

Yes I have been there and now at least a couple of times a week I can be found on my paddle board or wave ski- great cardio and I don't hurt myself when I crash plus it helps get my mind right and as it is very peaceful floating out past the wave zone- total relaxation no noise except the water lapping against the board. I also joined a gym a couple of years ago and do a fair amount of cardio with a little resistance work then go for a swim.
I found a little of everything and not overdoing any one activity balances out my fitness- Don

[dynamictiger]

+1 Swimming

But then I am probably biased. I cycle to improve my swimming.

[brentono]

For Ultimate Fitness (FME) Swimming is the "Yin" to Cycling's "Yang"
They compliment perfectly.
And for balance, strength, meditation and development of 'Chi'
try Tai Chi to relax after both, of the above.
Tip for 2013.
Cheers & Happy New Year.

[foo on patrol]

I used to love water skiing and could have gotten into that quite easily if not for the cycling bug. Doing the endurance stuff though, like the bridge to bridge on the Murray.

Foo

[Mulger bill]

Nothing is as good as riding, NOTHING!
Swimming is a distant but still closer than anything else next best.

[il padrone]

Sea kayaking is something I'd really love to do one day. The sorts of voyages they make go to some amazing locations and there is a strong similarity to the camping and travel routines of cycle-touring. 'cept they can easily carry up to 2 weeks of food and gear in the kayak

[Rhubarb]

I got back into road biking in a serious way two years ago. Still surprised how good it is for overal health and welbing. Regret not doing it earlier. I often wonder if there is something else right under my nose that I am currently ignoring, and will regret not picking up earlier.

Velomobile ... ?

[elStado]

Surfing/bodyboarding. Great fun and good exercise too. Just watch out for those sharks. :O

[stanzarallyman]

Sex and rally driving. These are the only two things I can think off.

[jacks1071]

Sex and rally driving. These are the only two things I can think off.

I don't know you, but I like your style

[MarkG]

Getting paid and getting laid

[trainedmonkey]

Martial Arts? Similar in some ways to cycling as you get a good workout and get to meet some great people.

[paladin]

Sex and rally driving. These are the only two things I can think off.

At the same time?

[roller]

recently added yoga into the mix.

a surprisingly tough workout and very relaxing at the same time.

plus good for flexibility , which can be an issue for heavy users (of cycling)

[Lukeyboy]

I'd like to do yoga but I don't trust my farts.

[foo on patrol]

I forgot the other thing.short circuit side car racing. yaahooo.

Foo

[Ozkaban]

Sea kayaking is something I'd really love to do one day. The sorts of voyages they make go to some amazing locations and there is a strong similarity to the camping and travel routines of cycle-touring. 'cept they can easily carry up to 2 weeks of food and gear in the kayak

This one (well, almost this one) worries me. My brother is into kayaking (or surf skiing??). He just completed his first Murray Marathon full distance on his own on one of those Epic skis. Looks awesome fun but I've been bitten pretty hard by cycling. dunno if I could afford another such sport!

[RonK]

Nothing is as good as riding, NOTHING!
Swimming is a distant but still closer than anything else next best.

Cross-country skiing also ranks highly I think.

[jimsheedy]

Surfing/bodyboarding. Great fun and good exercise too. Just watch out for those sharks. :O

Surfing is not something one should attempt to get fit. You need to be fit for surfing. And past a certain age it is unlikely one would ever become even vaguely proficient at it.

[fatdudeonabike]

I got back into road biking in a serious way two years ago. Still surprised how good it is for overal health and welbing. Regret not doing it earlier. I often wonder if there is something else right under my nose that I am currently ignoring, and will regret not picking up earlier.

I realised the same thing when I recently got back on the bike for the first time in years!
+1 for swimming. After a back injury (and after spending 10 years eating), swimming was the first thing I started doing for health and fitness. Its probably not quite as fun as riding but you can make it interesting. For me, I manage to look at that black line for 1-2kms most days because I want to do some open water "fun swims".
Getting myself a bike was really only because its something that wont damage my back, its good for health and fitness, and because it provided some variety to the black line... much to my surprise, I found it cycling infinitely more fun than swimming! Although I can swim a lot better than I can cycle at this stage.

[Mulger bill]

Nothing is as good as riding, NOTHING!
Swimming is a distant but still closer than anything else next best.

Cross-country skiing also ranks highly I think.

Never tried it but going on previous Alpine experience I'd be very wet and sore inside of ten minutes

[duds2u]

Nothing is as good as riding, NOTHING!
Swimming is a distant but still closer than anything else next best.

Cross-country skiing also ranks highly I think.

I cross country ski raced for 12 years and it is right up there with cycling.

If you have done the training for either and on a good day with well prepped skis (well prepped bike) and good snow ( good road surface) they are both pretty close to heaven.