What Muscles Does An Exercise Bike Work?

Cycling is an effective cardio workout that is easy on your body. It also gives you an opportunity for some resistance training. When you set the pedaling resistance at a very high level, significant effects over various muscles group of your body will be apparent. Your calves, thighs, leg muscles, and buttocks are the areas to benefit most from pedaling. An exercise bike is ideal for toning your muscles, and for weight loss. In this article, we will discuss what muscles does an exercise bike work.

What is an Exercise Bike?

An exercise bike is a exercise bike with a bucket seat, which sometimes comes with a backrest. The pedals are located in front of your body. It enables you to remain in a horizontal position whenever you work out, which prevents additional pressure on your lower back. It is also helpful to avert you from slouching so that you can work out for a longer period in your bike with full balance.

What Muscles Does an Exercise Bike Work?

The exercise bike works out the most important of all the body muscle - the heart. Cycling has many health benefits. It enhances your endurance and stamina; it's also an ideal sport for weight loss and building muscle mass. One of the advantages that pedaling brings is that you can choose and adjust your workout. The more the pedaling resistance on your bike is, the more you develop your muscles.

The exercise bike also works best on the legs, thigh muscles, the butt, the abdominals and back muscles.

Here are the Different Muscles Worked on by an Exercise Bike

Lower part body muscles: 

• Quadriceps: It is the muscle in your thigh or femur bone. They act as your knee extensors. Quadriceps are steadily working when you are pedaling an exercise bike.
  
• Gluteal muscles: These are your butt muscles. We have three glutes (large, medium, and small buttocks). It also helps to propel your bike. The glutes work with the hip to pivot your thigh while cycling.
  
• Hamstrings: These are the muscles at the back of your upper thighs. These muscles work opposing your quadriceps. Their main function is to flex the knee, allowing it to bend while pedaling.
  
• Calf muscle: Below the knees, at the lower part of your legs, are the calf muscles. You work on the primary calf muscle (gastrocnemius) while riding a bike. It helps to lift your heel and extend your ankle to enable you to pedal when the knee is straight. The soleus, on the other hand, is a smaller calf muscle that also helps to raise the heel to cycle the bike when your knee is bent.

Upper part body muscles:

• Abdominals: The bucket seat, along with the leg angle position in the exercise bike supports your lower abdominal muscles to work while cycling. If you fix your leg angle position closer to the pedal, you will feel your lower abs working a bit harder. A strong core stabilizes your body and lets you provide power when you push against the pedals. 
• Arm muscles: The front and back muscle of the arm are the biceps and triceps. Some exercise bikes feature an arm crank to work on many upper extremity muscles. The biceps allow you to pull the handle towards the body while the triceps help to push it away. 
• Back muscles: The quadratus lumborum muscle and iliopsoas maintain your position while supporting your spine at the same time.

The muscles on the upper part of your body are also working while pedaling an exercise bike.

How Long it Takes to Build Up Muscles on an Exercise Bike?

Final Thoughts

The exercise bike is an excellent equipment for workout. It is gentle on all your joints and easy on your lower back. It has a larger seat, which makes it safe and comfortable. You need not spend a lot of money on a gym membership or personal trainer. All you need is consistency and dedication. It also pays to know what muscles does an exercise bike work. With this knowledge in mind, we hope you can achieve the kind of body you're aiming for.