My Thighs!!!
 

I'm just recently into biking. In fact, yesterday I rode my way home. Last night whilst sitting on the ole ceramic throne, I noticed that my thighs had "new lumps and bumps". Whilst I'm pleased that I'm taking weight off and putting muscle on, I am concerned that I could end up with thighs the size of jet intakes as can be seen on TV.

I really don't want to start wearing lime coloured shirts, brief pants and shaved legs. Most of all I don't want massive thighs... so like,what's the risk of that happening?

Stop taking steroids.

LOL!

any way why not!?

i think i look so cool with my monsterous thighs/quads, at least you wont have track cycling quads, JEEZ i saw a pictuce there HUGE!

any way, i dont really know how to make them "smaller"

Sounds like an STD. They make a cream for that.

spin small gears.

velogirl's got it. Increase your cadence if you are "mashing" the pedals now. Perfect example of high cadence and thin legs is none other than Lance Armstrong.

Should I know who Lance Armstrong is?

Also what is "mashing".

Got to remember... I'm a newbie :D and an Aussie, and not jargonised up yet :D

Sorry.

mashing is spinning a large gear at low RPM's.

yes you should probably know who lance is, if you don't you will find out soon enough.

Lance Armstrong was the first guy to land on the Moon! He was also a good trumpet player.

Right so the more the legs spin for the distance covered the less risk of having thighs like big tree trunks.

Lance is an american pro-cyclist who's won the tour de france for the last few years, the tour being the most prestigious multi-day race on the pro-circuit.

Hey, I don't know about New South Wales, but around here the ewes dig a guy with thunder thighs.

Be proud of your tree trunks.

That's how it is supposed to work. You should be pedalling at the rate in the range of 70 to 90rpm. To find out, pedal along at a constant rate in a gear that feels comfortable, and count the number of times you rotate the pedals for 15 seconds. Multiply by four to get your cadence. If you are under 70, you are "mashing"; change to an easier gear to spin the pedals faster. It's an acquired motion that a for most humans is foreign. Mashing can lead to knee problems.

Not in NSW accept at Guyra do the lads like the sheep. You'll find greater participation in NZ :D :D :D

Don't quite get it. You say I should be mashing but that Mashing can lead to knee probs. I've gotta be extra extra careful cause I just had replacment knees put in.
:eek: :eek: :eek:

I think you've misunderstood - he's saying mashing can lead to knee probs and you should avoid mashing by changing to an easier gear to spin the pedals faster.

Okay, get it spin lots move little. That's what I thought. I guess I did misread. Thanks all.

Spinning means move a lot. Here's a simplified explanation.

Mashing - low pedal speed, high (hard) gear
Spinning - high pedal speed, low (easy) gear

You need to spin, not mash to avoid monster quads. Keep the rpms of your pedals up, and your gear low and easy. Make sense?

Yup... maybe I should have stuck to walking :D :D :D

You know, around here if a guy has tree sized thighs, and a name like Haagen Das, he gets dates all the time, something to consider, eh? ;)

Being an import from Denver I wouldn't know about that. Of course, all the velcro gloves around here do say 'made in Australia'....

As for the normal topic, I agree with the others. Faster pedalling makes for aerobic exercise which is mostly what you are looking for (I think). Try to stay on flatter courses so you don't have to push so hard on hills and you should get the results you are looking for.

Never! Your knees will love you forever because you've taken up cycling. But bike fit and pedalling speed are both important if you want to preserve the condition of your knees.

Shave you legs. That will fix everything.

Why not??? If I could develop a seriously muscular body, I'd LOVE it!!!