Cycling - ratio - leg size

ands43
ands43 Posts: 61
edited January 2011 in Commuting chat
Like many cyclist my legs got big. Would pushing a big cog make my legs bigger and a small cog make my legs smaller but more toned? Providing all the variables were the same. Odd question I know.

Comments

  • EKE_38BPM
    EKE_38BPM Posts: 5,821
    I would guess that you've got it right.

    What we need are a pair of identical twins to experiment on.
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  • mattsaw
    mattsaw Posts: 907
    No, 'toning' though lifting lighter weights is a myth,

    http://exercise.about.com/od/exercisewo ... yths_2.htm
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  • ands43
    ands43 Posts: 61
    Can we use the two twins from the x factor to test on!!

    I don't know about the whole lighter/heavier weight thing. Your link argues their point as well as the opposing view. As long as I can get in my new jeans I'll be happy!
  • asprilla
    asprilla Posts: 8,440
    Toned just means low body fat. As long as you are burning more calories that you take in then you will lose fat and become more 'toned'.

    Grinding the big cog it high resistance training and is likely to build your fast twitch muscle fibres. These are short and fat and will give you whopping great thighs.

    Spinning the little cog will improve your CV and will also work your slow switch muscle fibres which are longer and thinner. You are still building muscle but your legs wont get as big.
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  • Mark Elvin
    Mark Elvin Posts: 997
    ands43 wrote:
    Can we use the two twins from the x factor to test on!!

    Can we not test something usefull on them? Like the effects of dropping a Piano on them?
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  • Neil Holland
    Neil Holland Posts: 109
    I have massive calves (46 cm) do these grow through cycling or am I being secretly transported to a gym in my sleep and worked upon?
  • essex-commuter
    essex-commuter Posts: 2,188
    Neil Holland wrote:
    I have massive calves (46 cm) do these grow through cycling or am I being secretly transported to a gym in my sleep and worked upon?

    It depends if your ankles are 45cm.
  • Neil Holland
    Neil Holland Posts: 109
    Certainly don't have water retention issues.

    My ankles are very shapely.

    In fact in contrast to my wobble top half my lower limbs are well honed.

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