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Thoughts on BMX distance biking

Danger2OneSelf
Danger2OneSelf Posts: 883 Member
edited February 2 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm wondering if anyone else into BMX biking has some input about how helpful that kind of biking is for building muscle in the legs and getting some mild cardio in aswell? I'll bike 5-10 miles/day easily when I have it out and since it only has one gear on the crank (which is tiny) so it's much harder to peddle, there's a ton of resistance especially up hills. It's not like the pro cyclists that just peddle non stop fast for hours a day with 18 gears. I have lots of down time between hills and then short and very intense sprints up them. Let me tell you it feels like I just got done squatting for the first time, every time. I just don't want my fuking chicken legs getting any smaller and I don't wanna end up looking like one of those anorexic bikers either. Can I avoid any muscle loss by eating an insane amount of food on days I take my bike out? MFP calculator estimated my calories burned on a 12 mile bike ride to be almost 4,000 cals I think! I know it's up there but that might be pushing it I think, not sure???

Replies

  • SpleenThief
    SpleenThief Posts: 293 Member
    You mean mountain biking? AWESOME workout, full body and lots of fun. I don't get a chance to do it much but it's super cool.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    1) 4000 cals for 12 miles seems pretty absurd. I ride. A lot. All types of bikes (including single speeds).

    2) a small gear on the crank is actually easier than a big gear. A small gear on the back/wheel is harder.

    3) in a vacuum, it will do nothing to/for your legs. Too many variables to say for sure what it'll do. Most likely, yoru diet is a far greater factor than the riding.
  • composite
    composite Posts: 138 Member
    There is no way you are burning 4000cals for 12 miles of cycling. If this took you about a hour to do you would be looking at 600ish +/- 150ish depending on how fit you are and how much you weigh.

    Gearing on a BMX is very easy to push round, I wouldn't have thought you will get any real strength benefits but it's not going to make your legs smaller either. The ache you feel afterwards is more likely to be the effect of lactic acid than DOMS (like a squat).
  • MrsMX
    MrsMX Posts: 98
    I did 20kms (12 mile) on my Mountain bike yesterday and generally do 3 times a week now!

    Good cardio but not extreme ...
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