ThermionicScott 

Your calves leaned out because you presumably lost bodyfat. They need serious work to grow, preferably standing calf raises with a short pause at the bottom to force the muscles (not the tendons) to do the work of moving you back up.

Corbah

stairs/stadiums always make my calves hurt the most.

But calves are not really that important for cycling. In fact, it's just more mass you need to spin around. People say they feel a 300 gram difference in wheels. Try adding 3000 grams to your calves.

AZSkeptic

If you're willing to invest ten minutes per day for a month, this article outlines a method by which you should see some definite improvement and increased hypertrophy:

https://www.t-nation.com/training/an...massive-calves

You can slip your shoes off during your lunch hour and perform the heel raises nearly anywhere. The frequency and consistency are the keys to successfully utilizing this program. I followed Mr. Catanzaro's recommendations a few years ago when I wanted to trigger some new growth in my calves, and I can attest to the program's efficacy when followed as prescribed.

Dunbar

It's all genetics. I haven't done resistance training in over a decade and my legs look like this from cycling.

deapee

I can assure you that cycling does work the calves. You can target them more by increasing the seat height (recommended in a gym on a stationary obviously not on the road). I've been rehabbing a broken ankle and shrunken calf, and I'm certain cycling hits the calf muscles -- although, like you, I can't or couldn't feel it in my healthy calf, just the one that shrunk from under-use.

A LOT of calf size is genetic. It's about insertion points and so on. Some people just have monster calves, and some people don't. Me, I have small calves. I met a pro NFL player a few years back named Daven Holly. I've seen this guy jump over 6'4" people and intercept the ball...he had shorts on, and his calves looked like mine. In fact, he was exactly my size. Don't let muscle size fool you...especially the calves.

If you're super self-conscious, get a pair of pants to ride in.

duane_pipe

My calf structure, shape and insertion points are almost identical to my fathers. They look good when tensed but lack overall size. You can grow them but it takes a large amount of calf raises. If you have a gym membership get in and do a lot of calf raises, 3-4x a week minimum. Blast them, as people have said. 3-4x per week for a few months of blasting them will help.

It is largely genetic though. I saw a guy at the weekend with the most monstrous calves I'd ever seen in my life, but overtook him going uphill. He's probably pissed at all us skinny calved guys racing past him.

dim

move your saddle position

my daily commuting bike is in for repair and I've been using my wife's big heavy shopping steel dutch bike (loop mframe with shopping basket) to commute

slow and heavy and my legs hurt all over (I cycle far distances) ...

JoeMan

I do seated and standing calve raises at the gym. I also do leg sleds and leg extensions. Plus hamstring curls. I have increased the poundage incrementally and have seen significant results in size, strength and endurance. It is particularly noticeable when I MTB that I have more power.