What Cycling Isn’t Good For: Bone Density

As Jeannine Stein points out in this piece in the L.A. Times, cycling is great cardio, and it’s excellent for building muscles. But one thing that cycling is not excellent for is building bone-strength.  Stein directs us to a recent study conducted by Pam Hinton, associate professor of nutritional sciences at the
University of Missouri-Columbia. The study, which looked at the bone mineral density of 27 cyclists and 16 runners
ages 20 to 59, showed that 63 percent
of cyclists had lower-thana-normal bone density of the spine or hip, compared with 19 percent of
the runners. What to do? Hinton recommends that cyclists add a little variety to their workouts
to help increase bone density: running, playing basketball, jumping
rope or doing plyometrics a couple of times a week.
Read more in the L.A. Times.