Cycling............ ?

Question

I've just started cyclingin to work about a 35 min journey each way and im doing it 4 days a week, I dont want my legs to get muscley is this to much to start off with ?

Answer 1

nah cardio exercise sculps muscles not builds em
you'd have to be weight lifting.

Answer 2

No, I`ve been cycling back home from work (30 min trip) for the last 7 years and I havn`t got muscley legs. My husband gives me a lift in with the bike in the back of the car. It won`t make any difference cycling both ways, not for 35 mins.

Answer 3

Don't worry about your legs getting "muscley" anytime soon. I've never seen a female cyclist with TRULY muscled legs, and from a cyclist's perspective toned legs are WAY SEXY!

Just go have fun and don't worry so much about your appearance. A smiling, happy woman is always more attractive than a pissy-looking supermodel.

Answer 4

It's just fine. As all fitness activities, first it would make your muscle a bit of plump, but as you go on it would settle to a size that correspond to your activities. As i look to your distance cycled its make no difference to your legs unless you do a heavy gearing and cycling fast with some climbing road. Then it would be muscley.

Answer 5

No, it should help burn fat and give you lean muscles. Make sure you cycle high cadence in lower gear and use oxygen for fuel as oppose to slow turning in high gear that builds up lactic acid and slow twitch muscles (the bulky one). But even that you wouldn't get muscular legs unless you start taking steroids.

Ignore R.W.s comment. The old ones are the ones that dominate cycling races. 23 and younger have their own category of best young rider because they just can't keep up. Except Ullrich who won the Tour de France at a young age, he came 2nd 5 times after that, 4 times to Lance and didn't even podium with old man Lance's last race.

Answer 6

Now I'm no expert but I think the amount of muscle you build up depends on the effort you put in. So if you really push hard for long periods, then muscle will develop to compensate. With a bike, you are able to choose a lower gear to reduce the effort, so pedal faster in a lower gear and you should be fine.

Enjoy.... just watch out for motorists....they don't always watch out for you!!

Cloughie

Answer 7

I've started doing the same but only 20 mins each way.. I wouldn't expect to build muscle, it will just tone and emphasise whats already there.

Answer 8

dont worry about it. your legs arent going to get a lot of bulk if you just cruise. if you seriously exert yourself to get to your destination as fast as possible, then after a couple months you would begin to develop some muscle. the only thing a chick needs to worry about is all the attention from the guys for having some seriously sexy, toned legs.

Answer 9

No, bulk is formed by exerting the muscles to large strees over short periods, rather than prolonged low-stress workout.

Similar to weight training. Many reps with lower weights tone the muscles, whereas fewer reps with more weight build bulk, as there is more stress to deal with in one go.

Answer 10

Your legs won't get to muscley. They will get toned and fit. Keep riding and have fun toning those stems!

Answer 11

No, that's great.
If your muscles start to hurt (especially in your lower back), go to a bicycle shop and ask them to help you find your ideal seat settings and adjust your stance.

P.S. Don't foget to try climbing some hills (and eat good food, of course).