It’s Normal To Rock at Cycling and Suck At Running

I hopped off the bike, laced up some running shoes, and thought: how hard could it be?

Answer: very.

Two minutes in, my lungs were burning, my legs felt like I’d borrowed them from a 90-year-old, and my heart rate? Zone 4, baby. It was a disaster. A slow, humiliating, gasping-for-air disaster.

And I’m not alone. Plenty of cyclists, even the strong ones—the FTP warriors, the KOM chasers—fall apart the moment they swap the saddle for the pavement. But why? Let’s break it down.

1. The Muscles You Use Aren’t the Muscles You Need

Cycling and running use different muscle groups, even if they both require legs. On a bike, your quads do most of the heavy lifting. Running? Welcome to the world of calves, stabilizers, and impact-heavy punishment your knees weren’t ready for.

2. Cycling is a Low-Impact Wonderland

On the bike, you’re a gliding machine. No pounding, no real gravity resistance—just smooth revolutions. But running? Every step sends a shockwave through your body. Your joints, tendons, and bones need time to get used to this abuse. They don’t care how strong your quads are.

3. Your Cardio is a Liar

Think your VO2 max from cycling will make you a natural runner? Think again. Your lungs might be conditioned for endurance, but your legs are clueless. They’re not used to the motion, the stress, the different energy demand. So yes, your cardio helps, but it’s like having a Ferrari engine in a shopping cart.

4. Running is Brutal on Your Bones

Cyclists have powerful legs but weak bones—literally. Since cycling isn’t weight-bearing, your bones don’t get the resistance they need to toughen up. Runners? They’ve built up impact resistance over time. That’s why a cyclist who decides to “just run a 5K” often ends up hobbling for days.

5. Efficiency is Everything

Running isn’t just about fitness; it’s about technique. You can be in fantastic shape and still run like a drunken giraffe, wasting energy with every step. Unlike cycling—where you can sit, spin, and suffer in place—running requires a whole-body effort and efficiency. Bad form equals bad results.

6. Cyclists Overdo It and Pay the Price

Here’s the cruelest trick: your cycling fitness makes you think you can go harder than your body allows. You run too far, too fast, too soon. And then? Shin splints, stress fractures, tendonitis—the glorious reward for being overconfident.

7. The Mental Game is Different

Cycling has moments of rest—descents, drafting, coasting. Running is relentless. Every step demands effort. There’s no hiding from the fatigue, no soft-pedaling through a rough patch. It’s you versus the road, and the road doesn’t care.

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Table Summary

Factor	Cycling Strength	Running Struggle
Muscle Groups	Strong Quads	Weak Calves, Stabilizers
Impact	Low	High (joint stress)
Cardio Transfer	Somewhat Useful	Not Enough
Bone Strength	Weak	Running Requires Strength
Efficiency	High with Training	Low Without Technique
Overconfidence	Leads to Injury	Leads to Suffering
Mental Game	Has Rest Periods	Constant Effort

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Conclusion

So, is it normal to suck at running while rocking at cycling? Hell yes.

Your bike has been lying to you, coddling you in the sweet embrace of low-impact endurance. It made you think you were a god. Then you hit the pavement and realized you were mortal. A wheezing, awkward, sore-for-days mortal.

But here’s the twist—if you keep at it, you’ll improve. Just like cycling, running rewards patience, consistency, and not being an idiot.

Take it slow, build up gradually, and don’t assume your FTP means a damn thing here. If you don’t, well… enjoy walking like a cowboy for the next week.