Leg Size and Cycling Style
08-03-23, 06:42 PM
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Leg Size and Cycling Style
I used to road cycle for many years/ at what I would deem medium intensity. For the last 2 years I have "urban biked" in Chicago. My urban ride distance is less than my "road" rides were, but take longer due to frequent start/stops and slowdowns.
My wife recently commented that my legs are much larger now since city riding.
I dug up some old pics of myself in my road days, and (as usual) she is correct.
Could riding style be the reason? I don't have a power meter or fancy metrology!
gm
My wife recently commented that my legs are much larger now since city riding.
I dug up some old pics of myself in my road days, and (as usual) she is correct.
Could riding style be the reason? I don't have a power meter or fancy metrology!
gm
08-03-23, 08:25 PM
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Yeah, with that short burst high intensity urban cycling, you’ve been training and developing your fast-twitch muscles, which are bigger fibers than slow-twitch muscle fibers.
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08-04-23, 04:38 AM
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With any kind of muscular exercise, short, high-intensity bursts develop bulk, while a higher number of lower-load repetitions create smaller, more defined muscles.
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08-06-23, 09:45 AM
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How many years have passed? Maybe see 50+ Forum? Or 65+ sticky?
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08-06-23, 10:28 AM
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Yes - look at the riders who ride the velodrome vs those who ride the road. Marty Nothstein's (sp) legs slimmed down a lot when he left the track and became quite good as a road rider. He was still fast on the track. He used to come to the Alpenrose Challenge in his road years and win a lot but he wasn't packing muscle like the pure track guys.
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