--- title: "Aquatic Cycling: Is it a Better Workout?" description: Aquatic cycling is a great workout. Here's how it compares to your indoor cycling class. image: https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(2)%20copy-1.png --- [![BridgeAthletic Blog](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hs-fs/hub/414934/file-1317417595.png?width=150&height=50&name=file-1317417595.png "BridgeAthletic Blog")](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com) - [BridgeAthletic.com→](https://bridgeathletic.com/) ![Untitled design (2) copy-1](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(2)%20copy-1.png) September 17, 2019 By BridgeAthletic # Aquatic Cycling: Is it a Better Workout? Share: - - - ## **Peloton in the Pool?**   If you haven’t been to your local YMCA recently, you may not know that aqua cycling is trending across health clubs. Well, we have and can confirm the hype. ![Untitled design (2) copy-1](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(2)%20copy-1.png?width=600&name=Untitled%20design%20(2)%20copy-1.png) With the right instruction, you can definitely work up a sweat in a short period of time. [This new study](https://acefitnessmediastorage.blob.core.windows.net/webcontent/August2019/ACE_AquaCycle.pdf?utm_campaign=PowerUp&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_eUu1GGVAr38yqKAjwAwliRCW7_cFs-CYntBjtsunB7f7gqfZkJxvrjJUevNJsyDDwu644) is the first of its kind to evaluate the effectiveness of the water-based workout.  The study, sponsored by ACE, centered around 2 areas:  1. Cardiorespiratory Responses during Aqua-Cycling 2. A Comparison of Cardiorespiratory Responses to Aquatic vs. Land Cycling **Findings** Based on these two evaluations, researchers concluded that absolute values for HR and VO2 are higher during land-based cycling but found the relative values are nearly the same during aqua-cycling. This is because the max values (HRmax and VO2max) are lower in the water than on land. In this study, HRmax was on average 15 bpm lower in the water and VO2max was on average 12% lower. This means that, even though HR and VO2 were considerably higher on land when calculations were performed using percentages of maximal values, the participants were found to be working equally hard in both environments.   **Share the PowerUp** This is among the latest in performance news. Be sure to sign up (and share) the PowerUp, our monthly newsletter, to keep up with everything in sports, fitness, nutrition and wellness research.  [![https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/sign-up-for-the-powerup](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/414934/b432b048-bd03-4aab-b270-4560a271f5ac.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/414934/b432b048-bd03-4aab-b270-4560a271f5ac) #### About the Author [BridgeAthletic](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/author/bridgeathletic) ![](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hs-fs/hub/414934/file-1246672403.png?width=75&name=file-1246672403.png) At Bridge, we are all athletes and coaches first. As athletes, our team has experienced everything from riding the pine on JV, to winning NCAA championships, to competing in the Olympic Games. As coaches, we have helped countless athletes reach their full potential, winning everything from age group section championships to Olympic Gold Medals. ### Related Posts [![Exploring the Benefits of Retro-Walking](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hubfs/pexels-olly-3756042.jpg)](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/exploring-the-benefits-of-retro-walking-for-lower-back-and-knee-pain-relief) September 12, 2024 #### [Exploring the Benefits of Retro-Walking...](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/exploring-the-benefits-of-retro-walking-for-lower-back-and-knee-pain-relief) *Retro-walking (RW), or walking backward, is a therapeutic exercise used in resistance training...* [Read More](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/exploring-the-benefits-of-retro-walking-for-lower-back-and-knee-pain-relief) [![](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hubfs/rucking2-1.webp)](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/a-preparatory-training-approach-to-improve-rucking-and-loaded-movements) July 22, 2024 #### [A Preparatory Training Approach To...](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/a-preparatory-training-approach-to-improve-rucking-and-loaded-movements) Rucking and load support in full kit is an activity that many Tactical Human Performance teams will... 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[Read More](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/conditioning-protocols-for-law-enforcement-officers) ## Subscribe to our blog Bunch of awesome content ![BridgeAthletic\_Icon\_Orange (1)](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BridgeAthletic_Icon_Orange%20(1).png?width=100&height=27&name=BridgeAthletic_Icon_Orange%20(1).png) - - - - © 2026 BridgeAthletic [Bridge Blog](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/) [Explore BridgeAthletic ➞](https://www.bridgeathletic.com) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "BridgeAthletic", "url" : "https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/author/bridgeathletic" }, "dateModified" : "2019-09-17T15:34:38.816Z", "datePublished" : "2019-09-17T15:34:38.000Z", "headline" : "Aquatic Cycling: Is it a Better Workout?", "image" : [ "https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(2)%20copy-1.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/aquatic-cycling-is-it-a-better-workout", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hubfs/Bridge%20Logo%20Black%20%5B1200%5D.png" }, "name" : "BridgeAthletic" } } ```