Do you hate running, but want to keep up an endurance activity? In the show “It’s going to be much better” on RTL, broadcast on November 9, 2026, Dr. Jimmy Mohamed, doctor and presenter, affirms that cycling can replace running to move regularly, especially if the impacts put you off.
Yes, cycling can replace running if you practice it regularly
The question from a listener, Arthur, is very concrete: he doesn’t like running on the treadmill, nor going out for a run when it’s cold. Dr Jimmy Mohamed’s response is clear.
“Cycling is the perfect sport for those who don’t like running”
Cycling is therefore not a “discount” choice compared to jogging. It is an endurance activity: it requires sustained effort, breathing harder, and exercising the heart and muscles. For someone who never runs because they hate it, choosing cycling may be much more realistic than trying to force themselves to run for three weeks before giving up.
The condition is regularity. A very leisurely stroll from time to time will not produce the same effects as a practice integrated into the week: exercise bike, commute to work, outing on the road, electric bike used actively… The idea is to find an intensity that makes you work, without transforming each session into an ordeal.
Less impact does not mean no precautions
One of Dr Jimmy Mohamed’s main arguments has to do with the joints: on a bike, the body is supported, whereas when running, each stride causes an impact. This is why cycling is often better tolerated in cases of joint painespecially in people who have difficulty coping with repeated shocks.
The doctor also recalls an important idea in cases of osteoarthritis: movement is part of the treatment. This does not mean that cycling “cures” osteoarthritis, nor that it is suitable for all situations. In the event of acute pain, an inflammatory flare-up or severe osteoarthritis, the activity must be adapted, sometimes interrupted temporarily, and discussed with a healthcare professional if necessary.
For many people, the practical interest is there: to continue moving without multiplying the impacts. On this point, the bicycle fits into the logic of worn sports. It can also allow you to alternate running and sports such as cycling, or to replace running when it becomes too unpleasant. To go deeper, True Medical also explains why continuing to move in cases of osteoarthritis is often preferable to complete immobility, with the right adaptations.
Heart, metabolism, muscles: what cycling really does
In the column, Dr. Jimmy Mohamed associates cycling with several benefits of endurance activity: better ability to maintain effort, cardiovascular health, more favorable blood pressure and better insulin sensitivity. Carefully worded, cycling can contribute to the expected benefits of regular physical activity. In people with diabetes or hypertension, it does not replace medical monitoring or treatment.
Cycling also doesn’t work the legs exactly like running. The doctor emphasizes a point that is often underestimated: when you add resistance, on a hill or on an exercise bike, you can quickly discover that your thighs burn, even when you are already running. Cycling works the quadriceps, glutes and calves in a different way. This explains its interest as a supplement, or as a main activity if running is not your sport.
The most useful benefits to remember are simple:
- Maintain stamina without forcing yourself to run;
- Limit repeated impacts on the joints;
- Strengthen the legs differently, especially with resistance;
- Participate in a physical activity routine that is easier to maintain.
There remains the question of the figures cited on the air. Dr Jimmy Mohamed mentions a large study of around 600,000 people and a 20% lower risk of death among regular cyclists. The closest identifiable source is a British commuting cohort: people cycling to work had about a 20% lower risk of all-cause mortality than those using private motorized transport. It’s an association, not proof that cycling alone explains all the difference.
As for the idea that one hour of cycling per week would already do good, it can be understood as a motivational message: a little cycling is better than nothing. But this is not a sufficient official threshold. The French benchmark remains to tend towards
at least 30 minutes of dynamic physical activity per day. In the event of chronic illness, acute pain, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, poorly controlled hypertension or return after a long sedentary lifestyle, seek medical advice before increasing the intensity.
Additional sources
META DESCRIPTION: Do you hate running? Cycling can replace running for endurance, with less impact on the joints, according to Dr Jimmy Mohamed.