Originally Posted by
surgeonstone
This does not mean it is the mucle worked the most. Use of a stronger muscle for a longer time without the feel of a hard workout can occur if that muscle can handle the task and the glutes are just such a muscle. Inherently stronger one must ask why? Because they are used the most in day to day activities. Sore quads after a ride may simply be telling you they are not as strong a muscle group for the task involved. Look at the diagram in post 29. Which group has the longest use in the cycle? The glutes. Sit down at a weight machine and do leg presses that mimick the downward range of the pedal stroke . How much can you lift with the leg press mimicing this range. 400lbs, 500 lbs, 600? Now sit at the weight station mimicking the relative leg extension in a pedal stoke of the leg. How much can you lift? 100 lbs, 200?. The glutes are one of the strongest muscles in the body for a reason- they are worked the hardest by this bipedal , upright walking creature known as man.
Perhaps a tandem bike analogy would explain Surgeonstone's view. If a tandem bike is doing a hard climb, and one of the riders is very strong, and the other weak, it may be perceived that the weaker one is working harder (suffering more), but in actuality, the stronger one is doing more work, but is less affected by it.
In the end however, your quads are the muscles that will tire the soonest, be sore the next day, and ultimately be the limiter of your ability.