Cycling does nothing for my calves (?)
06-18-04, 01:43 PM
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teamwave...I know...I still can't bring myself to shave my legs. Cycling has made my calfs massive...here is another pic of my other leg.
06-18-04, 01:48 PM
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My calves are also pretty big and now getting to the point the blood vessels are poking up.....just what I have been aiming for!!! My personal trainer is amazed about mine. He also said he thinks that mine have come from genetics.
06-18-04, 01:51 PM
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I'm at work, so I don't have a digi, but kerny's calves are small in comparison to mine.
I will add that I've been cycling for 20+ years and was into body building in college. So, I'm a big big fat caucasian!!!! Actually, I'm German, Spanish and Argentine, but got most of Mom's German blood, so I look caucasian!
I'll snap a photo of my Ham Bones when I get home!
L8R
I will add that I've been cycling for 20+ years and was into body building in college. So, I'm a big big fat caucasian!!!! Actually, I'm German, Spanish and Argentine, but got most of Mom's German blood, so I look caucasian!
I'll snap a photo of my Ham Bones when I get home!
L8R
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06-18-04, 02:22 PM
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Yeah I think genetics has a lot to do with it. My dad's calves are roughly the circumference of my head (no joke), and all it took was a few months of cycling for mine to become grotesque. There's no a huge vein popping out of the rear, and Ive had other cyclists riding behind me exclaim that my calves are bigger than my thighs. Bit of an exaggeration of course, and Id rather have huge quads, but I supposed I'll take monster calves as well
06-20-04, 05:01 PM
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Originally Posted by nutbag
In my opinion, calves usually tone up heaps, but they don't really get bigger.
I'd say runners, even the skinny ones, tend to have larger calves than
cyclists -- generally speaking, of course. The cyclists we see with big calves
were born with them. My calves didn't grow a bit, they just toned up.
I worked in a gym for 5 years, and I'm sorry to say that I didn't see anyone's
calves grow, EVER!! I always thought the toughest workout for your calves was skipping.
There's not really a huge load on the calves when you cycle, nor do they go through a full range
of motion.
I'd say runners, even the skinny ones, tend to have larger calves than
cyclists -- generally speaking, of course. The cyclists we see with big calves
were born with them. My calves didn't grow a bit, they just toned up.
I worked in a gym for 5 years, and I'm sorry to say that I didn't see anyone's
calves grow, EVER!! I always thought the toughest workout for your calves was skipping.
There's not really a huge load on the calves when you cycle, nor do they go through a full range
of motion.
06-21-04, 07:36 AM
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I think I fall within the category of people with the inability to have large calves :-( Mine have become more tone over the last couple of years and I can see the "split" between them now...which is cool with me. I wouldn't say that large calves are associated with stronger riders, as I've crushed many of giant-calved riders up climbs before and out on the flats (to be fair...i've had my fair share of beatings on the roads from those who do have large calves, as well).
I recommend just being happy with your physique and knowing that you can hang with even the largest of calve-sportin' riders out there...those who are serious about the sport aren't gonna judge a book by its cover.
Later - P
I recommend just being happy with your physique and knowing that you can hang with even the largest of calve-sportin' riders out there...those who are serious about the sport aren't gonna judge a book by its cover.
Later - P
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06-21-04, 09:00 PM
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Originally Posted by kerny
teamwave...I know...I still can't bring myself to shave my legs. Cycling has made my calfs massive...here is another pic of my other leg.
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=30147
phil
06-22-04, 04:08 PM
#33
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Kerny,
Your calves would look better if you flexed them for the pictures.
And djpluv's point is right on the money.
Your calves would look better if you flexed them for the pictures.
And djpluv's point is right on the money.
03-29-16, 09:54 PM
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i have the same problem, i do a reasonable amount of cycling, running, a little gym work but calves wont grow......
my quads and hammys are big, so i look stupid in skinny jeans type of thing but calves refuse to grow---
if anything cycling seems to have made them leaner- any help?
my quads and hammys are big, so i look stupid in skinny jeans type of thing
but calves refuse to grow---if anything cycling seems to have made them leaner- any help?
03-29-16, 10:19 PM
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I returned to cycling after retiring. My legs looked awful..... skinny and knobby. Now my calves are large and well developed. I have well defined rope-like muscles around my (once knobby) knees and my thighs are large and full. My buttocks are firm and rounded. And I am an old man that owes it all to cycling.
Last edited by Dave Cutter; 03-29-16 at 10:35 PM.
03-29-16, 10:30 PM
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i have the same problem, i do a reasonable amount of cycling, running, a little gym work but calves wont grow......
my quads and hammys are big, so i look stupid in skinny jeans type of thing but calves refuse to grow---
if anything cycling seems to have made them leaner- any help?
my quads and hammys are big, so i look stupid in skinny jeans type of thing
but calves refuse to grow---if anything cycling seems to have made them leaner- any help?
Most of the guys who commented on this thread 12 yrs ago have probably quit cycling by now.
03-30-16, 01:11 AM
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I think toeclips or cleats are related to the calf muscles. I use a fairly forward cleat location, and the clips may help with more of a dynamic workout of the lower leg.
Flats with the pedal in the middle of the ball of the foot would give a less dynamic lower leg workout.
Flats with the pedal in the middle of the ball of the foot would give a less dynamic lower leg workout.
03-30-16, 01:56 AM
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I don't find cattle agile enough to ride a bike.
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03-30-16, 05:11 AM
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03-30-16, 05:41 AM
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My calves are huge
03-30-16, 05:46 AM
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If you want to build up the muscle in your calves ... run or walk briskly on sand, run or walk briskly up hills, run or walk briskly up stairs.
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03-30-16, 06:11 AM
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Walking up hills?
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03-30-16, 09:08 AM
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03-30-16, 12:54 PM
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I do believe that many avid cyclists have strong calf muscles, and I doubt that cycling chose them because of that single muscle group.
However, perhaps part of the problem is the people who think they can go to sleep at night and wake up the next morning looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger, and then think something is wrong when they don't.
Plan on riding frequently, and long for a few years, changes will show up. And, I do think foot retention will help.
However, perhaps part of the problem is the people who think they can go to sleep at night and wake up the next morning looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger, and then think something is wrong when they don't.
Plan on riding frequently, and long for a few years, changes will show up. And, I do think foot retention will help.