{"id":15519,"date":"2022-07-16T10:20:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-16T10:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/discerningcyclist.com\/?p=15519"},"modified":"2024-03-22T07:25:58","modified_gmt":"2024-03-22T07:25:58","slug":"what-muscles-does-cycling-tone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/discerningcyclist.com\/what-muscles-does-cycling-tone\/","title":{"rendered":"What Muscles Does Cycling Tone? [ANALYSIS]"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n The Short Answer <\/p>\n \n

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Cycling tones muscles<\/a> below the waist, such as the glutes, quadriceps, calves, hamstrings, and hip flexors. It also provides some benefits to the core and arms. Combined with a healthy diet, cycling can contribute to overall body shape<\/a> changes by burning fat. Results vary based on individual factors.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Cycling is well known to provide physical and mental health benefits. Overall well-being is helped by a positive boost to your mind, body, and soul. Focusing on the body workout part, cycling is an aerobic, resistance activity that tones your core and lower muscles. Your arms get a workout, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. What Muscles Are Worked While Cycling?\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main muscles activated while cycling<\/a> are below the waist, but we also derive some benefits to the core and arms. Our power comes mainly from the glutes, the quadriceps, the calves, the hamstrings, and the hip flexors. Balance and stability are needed to deliver power to the biceps, triceps, and abs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No two people are the same, but this guide presents a template for the different muscles used. Think of a right pedal stroke as a circular clock face going in the opposite direction from the left pedal stroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The glutes you use to sit produce around 27% of the power when pedaling and are working hardest at the top of the pedal stroke. Your quadriceps run along the front of the leg from hip to knee. They give you 39% of your pedal power and work hardest as each right pedal stroke goes from 2 to 6 o\u2019clock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your calves produce around 20% of the effort needed and are working hardest from 6 o\u2019clock to 9 o\u2019clock. The hamstrings give you 10% of the power as you swing the pedal back up to 9 o\u2019clock. Finally, getting you back to 12 o\u2019clock requires the hip flexors, which give you the final 4% of your power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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