Does cycling build your stomach muscles?
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Sofiahuerta
Posts: 30 Member
I've been making progress with building muscle in my thighs but my chest seems almost the same really. Should I just continue with squatting, cycling etc or throw in something else?
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Replies
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Hi, hope you don't mind me asking but what is ur routine for toning ur thighs, as from ur post it sounds like it's working
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Are you talking about your abs (stomach) or your pecs and other upper body (chest)?
Squats will definitely work your ab muscles. Cycling *can* engage your core (if you are using a road bike, for example--not really if you're sitting on a recumbent at the gym or on the road), but certainly not in the same way.
If you want visible ab definition, it's less about building muscle and more about losing fat.
If you want to build chest muscles and upper body strength, you will need to do additional upper body work, yes.0 -
Thanks, you also said in ur post that your building muscle in ur thighs, I just wondered what you had done and are doing to get the muscle,
But yes I see to get rid of fat first to then see the muscle, I didn't quite understand that but get it now, the more you guys chat about it 0 -
sarahmcs65 wrote: »Thanks, you also said in ur post that your building muscle in ur thighs, I just wondered what you had done and are doing to get the muscle,
But yes I see to get rid of fat first to then see the muscle, I didn't quite understand that but get it now, the more you guys chat about it
if you want to add muscle you need a caloric surplus + a progressive lifting program0 -
Sofiahuerta wrote: »I've been making progress with building muscle in my thighs but my chest seems almost the same really. Should I just continue with squatting, cycling etc or throw in something else?
By cycling, do you mean riding a bicycle?
If so ... riding a bicycle isn't the best choice for building your core or upper body. It might help a little bit, but you're probably not going to get a six pack from it.
That said, I found riding as stoker on our tandem worked by abs more than any other bicycle because of the balance factor.
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Bicycling does nothing for your upper body. Racers have to do other training to strengthen their core and upper body. If the only thing you do is bicycle, you will have muscular legs and be a toothpick from the waist up.0
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to build your upper body, you have to work your upper body...squats are great...cycling is awesome...but some bench press would be good...some bent over rows perhaps...some core isolation if you so desire.
for your lifting I would strongly suggest following and actual program to garner the best results.0 -
From my cycling experience (amateur on a road bike), it's VERY beneficial to do core exercises to help your cycling but the cycling itself will do nothing for your core. For the best overall appearance and performance, incorporate a strength program into your training that covers the entire body.0
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Training a muscle directly will do a much better job. Start with some pushups and core work (planks, etc.).
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Cycling isn't exactly known as a great chest or ab exercise...
Unless Sir Bradley Wiggins is your ideal body type, you may want to supplement your cycling with a bit of strength training
How about Sir Chris Hoy?
And yes - I know he's a) a sprint cycler and b) that body comes from the gym0 -
Iron_Feline wrote: »Cycling isn't exactly known as a great chest or ab exercise...
Unless Sir Bradley Wiggins is your ideal body type, you may want to supplement your cycling with a bit of strength training
How about Sir Chris Hoy?And yes - I know he's a) a sprint cycler and b) that body comes from the gym
Or Robert Förstemann!
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Iron_Feline wrote: »Cycling isn't exactly known as a great chest or ab exercise...
Unless Sir Bradley Wiggins is your ideal body type, you may want to supplement your cycling with a bit of strength training
How about Sir Chris Hoy?And yes - I know he's a) a sprint cycler and b) that body comes from the gym
Oh, Chris Hoy, what a beautiful, beautiful man. Track cyclists do tend to be less... let's say "lean"... Than the pro tour guys. Case in point:
Robert Forstemann.0 -
Iron_Feline wrote: »Cycling isn't exactly known as a great chest or ab exercise...
Unless Sir Bradley Wiggins is your ideal body type, you may want to supplement your cycling with a bit of strength training
How about Sir Chris Hoy?And yes - I know he's a) a sprint cycler and b) that body comes from the gym
Or Robert Förstemann!
Ha, love that we simultaneously posted pics of him!0 -
Iron_Feline wrote: »Cycling isn't exactly known as a great chest or ab exercise...
Unless Sir Bradley Wiggins is your ideal body type, you may want to supplement your cycling with a bit of strength training
How about Sir Chris Hoy?And yes - I know he's a) a sprint cycler and b) that body comes from the gym
Or Robert Förstemann!
Ha, love that we simultaneously posted pics of him!
lulz - I may have to post some pics of Vicky Pendleton to redress the balance 0 -
Iron_Feline wrote: »Cycling isn't exactly known as a great chest or ab exercise...
Unless Sir Bradley Wiggins is your ideal body type, you may want to supplement your cycling with a bit of strength training
How about Sir Chris Hoy?And yes - I know he's a) a sprint cycler and b) that body comes from the gym
Or Robert Förstemann!
Ha, love that we simultaneously posted pics of him!
But I can't imagine he looks like that from cycling alone. He must do a great upper body training program as well.0 -
whatatime2befit wrote: »Iron_Feline wrote: »Cycling isn't exactly known as a great chest or ab exercise...
Unless Sir Bradley Wiggins is your ideal body type, you may want to supplement your cycling with a bit of strength training
How about Sir Chris Hoy?And yes - I know he's a) a sprint cycler and b) that body comes from the gym
Or Robert Förstemann!
Ha, love that we simultaneously posted pics of him!
But I can't imagine he looks like that from cycling alone. He must do a great upper body training program as well.
I'm sure he does, most pro athletes do spend a lot of time in the weight room. But that's also the standard body type for track cyclists, versus roadies who have to be much more strict about their power to weight ratio to get over mountains and what not. The velodrome is more forgiving towards weight as long as it comes with increasing power. You can see the pure sprinters in Le Tour tend to barely get through the mountain stages, they just aren't built for it.0 -
whatatime2befit wrote: »Iron_Feline wrote: »Cycling isn't exactly known as a great chest or ab exercise...
Unless Sir Bradley Wiggins is your ideal body type, you may want to supplement your cycling with a bit of strength training
How about Sir Chris Hoy?And yes - I know he's a) a sprint cycler and b) that body comes from the gym
Or Robert Förstemann!
Ha, love that we simultaneously posted pics of him!
But I can't imagine he looks like that from cycling alone. He must do a great upper body training program as well.
Correct.
Just like Wiggo's physique is purposefully selected for his goals and not a facet of cycling alone the same is true of the track sprinters.
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Iron_Feline wrote: »Cycling isn't exactly known as a great chest or ab exercise...
Unless Sir Bradley Wiggins is your ideal body type, you may want to supplement your cycling with a bit of strength training
How about Sir Chris Hoy?And yes - I know he's a) a sprint cycler and b) that body comes from the gym
Or Robert Förstemann!
Ha, love that we simultaneously posted pics of him!
lulz - I may have to post some pics of Vicky Pendleton to redress the balance
By all means! She's both a bad*** and drop dead gorgeous. Color me jealous.0
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