cycling and calf muscles

eeebee

I've been cycling to and from work (a couple of miles only) 5 days a week and only occasionally do spin class.

Someone very dear to me, whose opinion matters a lot, told me yesterday that my calves are looking bigger than before I started exercising.

Since I started on MFP and living a healtheir lifestyle, I have toned up and physically lost a couple of inches but after hearing that comment, I started to wonder....can cycling bulk a woman out?

(I know it defines muscle but making them wider was not something I expected)

lucyrose_

Hiya! I cycle to and from work everyday - about an 8 mile round trip. My legs are definitely a lot stronger than they used to be and I know that I'm getting a lot more definition in my calves. I wouldn't have thought that the amount you are cycling will work your calves enough for them to get bigger in the time that you have been doing it? Maybe your friend just meant they're more defined?
Don't let that comment get you down... maybe you could add your calf measurements to keep a track of whether they are getting more muscley?!

eeebee

Thaks Lucy - when I last measured them, they were half an inch smaller than a couple months before. I have always had shapely calves so it's not a big surprise that they'll be even more defined now I am more active.

A couple I know commented on my quads recently saying they are looking really muscley (my thighs have definitely lost weight from cycling, hooray! They thought the muscles on the front of my thighs looked great but I dont really want to end up with legs like this:

http://www.activebodi.com/2011/03/31/fitness-demotivationals/female-calves-muscles/

Any tips anyone? It occurred to me that maybe I am doing something wrong or using the wrong technique to shape up and lost weight and fat. PS. I do cardio, squats, lunges etc and I do some strength training too...just wondering if there's a way of getting the dream-legs I am looking to acheive?

Ant_M76

Are you mashing a high gear or do you spin faster cadence in a lower gear (on your commutes)?

eeebee

Yeah I always cycle in the same gear - 5th.

xraychick77

no

Ant_M76

Yeah I always cycle in the same gear - 5th.

How many rings at the front by the pedals? Which one do you use?
When you say 5th, I assume you mean the 5th at the rear (the largest physical cog there being #1?)

I don't think you will necessarily bulk out by cycling but when you mentioned quads it could be that if you are pushing a high gear at a slower tempo and this could have some impact on the quads especially. Try counting how many full revolutions you tend to do per minute (by counting for a 10 sec period a few times to see the avg and multiplying that number by 6). If your total is less than 80, I would advise changing to a lower gear to spin the legs faster...

This may or may not assist keeping the development of those super quads in check It will also protect your knees and help develop a nice fluid peddaling stroke.

ArroganceInStep

Go with measurements and keep track of it, if you're losing inches chances are the muscles are just more visible and look bigger.

eeebee

Duckie - I'm not really an expert on bikes, I just know how to ride them, but I do know my hybrid has 6 gears. Not sure about the whole back or front wheels thing, I'm afraid :blushing:

I ride on pretty uneven terrain, grass, mud, hills, dirt tracks etc.. not just pavement routes (I'd say half and half) but I will certainly try cycling in 4th or even 3rd gear for a few days, it just takes double the amount of pedalling and time to get anywhere that way (so you're spot on with the pedalling harder @ a slower tempo assumption)

Thanks for the advice, really appreciate your input....will give the revolution count a go this afternoon.

Ant_M76

Cool... enjoy the ride and let us know the outcome :drinker: