bike riding

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btkkterry
btkkterry Posts: 183
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm struggling building leg muscles and recently I started bike riding (mountain bike). Is this a good exercise to build the muscles in my legs or is it similar to cardio workouts like the elliptical.

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  • knightreader
    knightreader Posts: 813 Member
    my very amateur opinion is that it will help build strength in your legs. especially in your calves. for me, it is more of a toning exercise and not a muscle building in the sense that my muscles will be poking thru my skin exercise. however, i have nothing to really base that on. maybe for me, i'm just not riding far enough. curious as to what others say...
  • gimpygramma
    gimpygramma Posts: 383 Member
    I am a recreational walker and typically walk 4 to 6 miles a day. In 1996 my daughter challenged me to do the West Coast Trail...that is a 5-7 day hike over really rough terrain, lots of climbing. As I prepared my biggest concern was the fact that I'd be carrying a pack. I wondered if my shoulders would take it. As it turned out, my shoulders were fine but at the end of my first day, my legs felt like they were made of spaghetti. All my walking hadn't done much at all to build up my quads. That hike was the first of many backpacking trips that I took in mountainous country but after that I always cross trained by doing some heavy duty bike riding. That got my quads in shape so they were never a problem again.
  • myofibril
    myofibril Posts: 4,500 Member
    I'm struggling building leg muscles and recently I started bike riding (mountain bike). Is this a good exercise to build the muscles in my legs or is it similar to cardio workouts like the elliptical.

    It is a good idea as mountain biking is more anaerobic than an aerobic exercise (like the elliptical) This is especially true if you are also doing a lot of hill climbing.

    Having said that a bit of strength training thrown into the mix to not only build your leg muscles but get more power into you cycling is a great idea. It's less important if you are a road cyclist but compliments MTB really well.

    Have a great time. Mountain biking is ridiculously good fun ;)
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