scr1be

i've been going to the gym for a while now, to keep in shape, and i was wondering if you guys work out your legs on top of riding your bike?

or do you think pedaling is generally efficient in toning and keeping your legs muscular (not huge).

i see some pictures of people on bikes who have really nice defined calves and decent sized thighs. i wonder if they do leg presses/curls/extensions in the gym as well as ride to get that, or do they just ride?

i'm not sure if the pedaling motion itself is enough to develop the hams/calves/quads/butt, albeit it seems like it when i'm pedaling.

Drunken Chicken

I think it's perfectly possible to achieve toned legs just by riding, I have several friends who ride a lot of XC but don't go to the gym and have really toned legs.

born2bahick

other activities I do are running and swimming, I try not to do any exercises that will bulk me up, but I will spin on stationary bike in the winter time.

errolprowse

if uve been off the bike for a long time, it helps a lot i think if ur getting back into it, it helped for me

santiago

No, just riding and spinning class. I take the spinning class for the cardio workout, to improve my spinning technique and to get faster.

I am thinking of doing some exercises to strengthen my core muscle group (abs, back, glut) with some stretching thrown in.

Flak

Nah.

Riding is primarily about fun/escape from daily grind for me. Any fitness side effects are just that, welcome side effects.

LowCel 

I do a whole lot of leg work in the gym from October through February. Once riding season comes it is bike only. My workouts vary a lot depending on what phase I am in. At times I'm only doing two or three reps per set. At other times I'm doing 60 reps per set. The workouts I hate the most are the hamstring workouts. Those hurt so bad!!!!!

ghettocruiser

Gym... that's some kind of building, right?

mx_599

i think it is still important to work your legs in the gym

darkmother

Sometimes in the winter I do....just to keep myself from going nuts. It does help build explosive power for steep climbs etc.

stapfam

I have to train for a big ride right the way through the winter. This used to be done at the gym on the various machines- Cycle- recumbent- cross trainer or rowing. I still went into the weights room though and it is surprising how many muscles there are in the legs that Cycling does not improve. You will also be surprised at how much upper body strength you need to control a mountain bike. If you can get to a gym for a regular session once a week throughout the winter- you will be surprised at how much stronger you will be in the Spring. And that is the whole body. If you can get there twice a week- then so much the better.

Last year I went night riding offropad once a week instead of the gym. When the summer came- I found out how much the Gym had given me in previous years.

DylanTremblay

I never bother working my legs at the gym...biking and track keeps them tonned and sexy!

taylor p

i agree

scrublover

lotsa' riding. some snowhoeing and xc-skiing in the winter. some hking, and once in a great while, a run.
winter = a bit more time on the road for me, as less trail is rideable. lower geared spinning not only is good for the legs, you'll do better overall developing a smooth spin. fixed gear all the way.

^*^BATMAN^*^

So this is the question I have for the OP. Does this mean that you only do uperbody weight workouts?

I do forsure. Well I do from Oct/Nov until about feb/march. Depends how long I take off of training, and when I can get back on the road.

joeprim

You bet! I think it helps a lot. Maybe not for you young folks, but I need it.

Joe

scr1be

no, i do a full body workout. i've been working out for about a year to a year and a half now, off and on. i was a really skinny guy, 5'7 and 145 lbs. i finally gained to 154 lbs during the past 4 months.

i guess my question was really geared towards those who actually go to the gym. i wanted to know if i could get away with not doing legs anymore in the gym (because i'm lazy and that would give me a day off), and just keep my legs decent by cycling and snowboarding. i asked because i saw some cyclists and runners with really built legs. not huge, but you know, cut up, muscular, and toned. so i was just wondering if these guys were doing extra work in the gym, or if they just did what they enjoyed.

idleuser

Cycling alone will get your legs toned, but only to a cyclist's perspective In order to keep your legs defined, I'd say it's best to do high reps and low weights. Also, cycling alone could be bad for your knee area if you're overworking certain muscles (which cycling does). So I always try to do a workout in the gym with the muscles that cycling doesn't work on.

mx_599

not necessarily

santiago

Funny you should mention that. My right knee has been killing me. I think my cleat wasn't well set and thes spinning class I took aggravated it. What alternative exercises you use for your legs?

mx_599

hip flexors, leg flexors?

idleuser

Actually, leg extensors and flexors. I don't do much else besides leg extensions (main extensors), leg curls (main flexors), and squats. I'm just too lazy to work every part of the leg, haha . I think what's helped me most is stretching every day. Even though it has nothing to do with lifting, I'd say it ranks up there in importance.

scr1be

my leg routine is always the same. i do leg presses for my quads/hams/butt, leg curls for my hams, leg extensions for my quads, calf raises, and sometimes i do squats instead of leg presses.

then for another day of the week i kickbox.

santiago

Cool, I used to kickbox but gave it up for spinning. FWIW, I've gotten more injured mountain biking than I ever have kickboxing. I do miss it, though.

stapfam

One of the Muscle groups I have to work on are the quad muscle around the knee. I can really work on them at the gym wheras on the bike they are just kept in trim- Good trim mind you but not as good a strengthening as I can get in the weights room on certain machines. Then there are the calf muscles. Neglected by a many but try pedalling circles awith a weak calf and you will understand how a good calf helps. Then how about a Spinning class. Not many mountain bikers even think of doing this roadie orientated form of exercise but Great for cardio vascular.

I am a fan of the Gym if you cannot get out on the bike but you have to use the gym to its full extent if you want to take the full benefit. And that also includes working the leg muscles that you think may be strong enough through cycling- I can assure you- they ain't