What's the biking equivalent of 10,000 steps a day?

The phrase 'gotta get my steps in' has become part of everyday life. But what if there were a simpler, faster way to meet your daily activity needs?

Photo of a man about to set out for a casual bike ride
(Image credit: Getty Images)

"10,000 steps a day"—it's a goal many associate as the baseline for an active and healthy lifestyle in this sedentary world. Step counters are now standard on smartwatches and health apps, and the phrase “gotta get my steps in” has become part of everyday life. But what if there were a simpler, faster way to meet your daily activity needs?

“If you jumped on your bike for 30 minutes. [If you] spun around for a brisk 30 minutes, riding to the post office or the grocery store or something, you'd probably get the caloric expenditure that [the 10,000 step goal] is driving for,” states Scott Williams, a physical therapist and orthopaedic certified specialist, who has worked with professional cycling teams including T-Mobile, Team Columbia/High Road and Garmin/Barracuda.

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Caroline Dezendorf
Contributor

Caroline Dezendorf is an elite off-road cyclist and storyteller with a passion for building community and protecting wild spaces. She lives in Truckee, California, where her backyard is the expansive Sierra Nevada mountains. You can often find her in the mountains, exploring by two wheels or two feet. She aims to inspire future generations to explore the natural world and push beyond their comfort zones.