what major muscles are used? does it work out your abs and arms?
2007-08-07 03:02:21 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Cycling
The quadriceps are the primary muscles used in cycling. Your calves are a close second, as is your lower back and gluteus maximus (butt).
Arms are way down the list, as they merely support you, and do not bear resistance for a range of motion.
Cycling is my favorite way to exercise my lower body. I like weight training for my upper body.
2007-08-07 03:07:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with most of the replies except those who disregard the arms. Arms take a lot of punishment in riding a bike. Mainly through road shock absorbtion. Also when out of the saddle they are used to put, power into the bike by levering the frame from side to side. This is very important on steep climbs or just on long climbs when your legs need a rest or indeed when you need to rest your butt.
I think that having insufficiently developed arm muscles will impact on bike handling and endurance.
2007-08-07 07:19:43 · answer #2 · answered by fatherjac 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on the type of cycling you are doing. If it is just the oh so boring road cycling then yeah like most of the answers its your quads, *** and lower back. But if it is trail riding, especially on anything technical then it is your brain, quads, ***, arms and lower back. There is much more bike control involved in trail riding, now dont get me wrong you are not going to get a full blown arm workout doing this. But you definetly use your arms to throw your bike around and you blaze the trail!! I have been riding bmx and mountian bikes for about 20 years.
2007-08-07 07:54:37 · answer #3 · answered by fullrighttender1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This gets asked on this site 1 or more times a day...
In general you legs and butt get the work and very little else. If anyone says you abs and arms get a good work out well they are, how should I put this, WRONG!
Like the dozen other times I answered this question:
Go ride 10 miles really hard:
legs tired? yes
Out of breath? yes
Abs burning like you just did 100 sit ups? NO
Listen to you body - it will tell you a lot.
2007-08-07 03:51:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'll ditto descendentof zeus' answer, but only adding this. The biggest muscle you should use when cycling is your brain.
2007-08-07 03:29:00 · answer #5 · answered by Bob Lahblah 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, yep, mostly you develop lower body muscles, but on mountain bikes you do also develop upper body.
2007-08-07 06:18:12 · answer #6 · answered by Roberto 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You'll find that it'll work the muscles you either forgot about or didn't know you had.
2007-08-07 15:39:42 · answer #7 · answered by JC 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it can work them to an extent. it isnt as focused or intense as say a weight routine, but holding your body up, pulling on the bars and such works you all over if you ride hard.
2007-08-07 03:41:02 · answer #8 · answered by ohiojeff 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no, not really. if you have clips, you'll use all of your leg, hamstrings, quads, and calves. withhoutt the clips, all you work is your quads and a little of your hamstrings
2007-08-07 04:36:23 · answer #9 · answered by Adeel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you do it right, then it does work out your abs!
2007-08-07 03:05:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋