Which is the best exercise?

[tigwig]

I used to walk absolutely everywhere and now I have got a bike with a child seat attached which I put my 4yr old daughter on! My question is does cycling burn as much calories and fat as the walking did (pushing a pushchair)? When riding my bike I do get tired going uphill but obviously downhills requires no effort so I am concerned that now I have almost stopped the walking the cycling will mean I will put on weight or not tone as much. Is this true?

[Velvetee]

Cycling will burn off more calories than walking, providing you actually pedal the bike and not just let it coast down slopes, so try to find areas of flat ground or slighltly hilly areas, as cycling uphill will obviously burn more calories.

Bear in mind though, any activity that you do over and over, will just allow your body to adapt to that particular exercise, so it will just get used to it and perform less. Try to vary your exercise routine as much as possible, so it would be better if you do a combination of walking, brisk walking and cycling.

[winebuyer]

Assuming that you cycle back to where you started from, you must cycle up as many hills as you freewheel down. A lot of it will also be on the flat, which can be hard work when you allow for wind resistance, and even tyre resistance. Cycling is great exercise, and relatively low impact.

[bimbo123456]

As long as you are slightly out of breath you are doing aerobic exercise. Which can only be a good thing!!

[R1Geezer]

1 minute cycling is approx 10 cals, 1 minute walking is approx 6 cals now if you walk 2 miles it'll take 30mins ish so that's 240 cals, cycling will take 10 mins and that's 100cals. So although cycling uses more per minute you get there quicker, so factor the actual time spent excersizing into your calculations.