Does biking (spin or recumbent) make your legs bigger?

minipony

I'm introducing an older friend to the gym. I usually run or do intervals on the crosstrainer thing. He mostly wants to do the bike so I've been biking almost 4 out of 6 days I exercise. I feel like my legs are getting bigger. I don't want that. I have criterion for how I want my legs to look and bulky is not one of them. What do you think?

ninerbuff

It's pretty tough to get bigger on a calorie deficit, if you are on one. While their maybe an initial increase in size due to water retention, it usually subsides if one is consistent.

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KarenJanine

If you're at a calorie deficit your legs may look more muscular as you lose the fat. They're not getting bigger but the fat loss reveals more definition.

steff274

I have more muscle but my legs are leaner I do spin 3 times a week amongst other things

azulvioleta6

Well, I don't do a ton of stationary bike, but most of my exercises are pretty leg-focused.

My legs are not getting bigger--they are really awesome, actually.

tomatoey

Self.com did an Exclusive Expose on this very important issue!

Short answer: no. Which I'm annoyed about, personally, because I can't do much lifting and I want solid thighs.

Longer answer:

"You have two types of muscle fibers; one type are endurance fibers. When you do aerobic exercise, like Spinning, you use these fibers,” Olson says. OK, easy so far. “These fibers can become more fatigue-resistant from doing activities like Spinning and running [aka, it feels easier to do the same workout], but they do not bulk. You have to lift heavy weights doing multiple sets to cause muscle growth in your power/strength fibers, and you don’t use these to any appreciable degree during cardio exercise.” Aha! But wait, there’s more.

Olson went on to say that recent studies have shown that women actually lose fat from their guts and lower bodies when they cycle often. In other words, their thighs likely look smaller.

Yes, your legs may appear a little pumped after SoulCycle, “but that’s temporary, and due to more blood flow and higher blood pressure in the muscle beds in your legs,” Olson explains. “You also take up extra water when you sweat a lot, and the muscle beds that are used in any activity will store more water to compensate. But these changes aren’t because of increased muscle size or more fat, and they’ll fade within an hour.”

SELF Exclusive! We Got the Truth on Whether Spinning Bulks Up Your Legs or Not

tomatoey

aka what ninerbuff said