What body parts are strengthened when you ride your bike?
813395
While road and mountain biking will differ, the basics are the same.  In the legs, you have your quadriceps femoris (or "quads"), sartorius (can cause knee misalignment and pain if excessively tight), tibialis anterior (the "shin splint" muscle), the lower leg muscles like the gastrocnemius (the one that looks cool in cyclists) and soleus, and the hamstrings (on the back of your thigh).\n\nThe gluteus muscles in your butt help you push big gears, and the trapezius and other back muscles help you pull on the handlebars when you stand and hammer.  Deltoids in your shoulders work with your triceps and pectoralis minor to hold you up on the bike, and the sternocleidomastoid (or SCM) that holds your head up is a particularly overworked muscle in the neck.\n\nIn short, bicycling works many of the major muscle groups, particularly the legs and butt.  This is also why bicycling is one of the few exercises that can burn 800 Calories per hour or more and tones your entire body.
389984
I probably depends on how hard you walk or ride.  When you walk, do you swing your arms, walk really fast, swing your hips?  When you ride, are you going up and down hills?  I think the medical answer would be that riding a bike is better, but I think it also depends on how much effort you put in to either activity.
952741
Lots of physical exercise (exertion) AND\nImagination . . .
212883
Hardening of body tissue.
613017
things with high potassium, like mushrooms, bananas and oranges.  potassium is one of the key elements your body uses when repairing muscles after a workout.
380707
Simply, riding at a fairly constant rate causes the bodies' heart rate, oxygen intake and blood flow to increase, thereby improving your general (aerobic - with oxygen)cardiovascular fitness level. The leg muscles, primarily the quadriceps and calf muscles, also get a work out. Of course, the more resistance you place on the pedalling, the harder you work, and the effects on your body are greater. As you ride, your body also burns calories...the longer the ride, the more calories burned. This, of course, can be important in weight management. Hope this helps.
874351
riding my bicycle,  I ride 7 miles a day around the town I live in, up and down hills. mostly in 5th gear. I like it because it makes me feel energetic. helps keep my weight down, stregthens my legs and keeps my cardio in good form. I am a pro wrestler breathing is a must. (a certain way of breathing) and riding my bike helps with that breathing process. I am 6'4 and 318 lbs I ride to keep in shape so that desease doesn't set in. diabettes runs on both sides of my family, I have to exercise.
984376
Cycling. Exercise. Maintain good health.
388520
I think the first person thought you were bicyling with your arms.\n\nPrimary muscle groups exercised during normal bicyling are the quadriceps/hamstrings (thighs) as well as glutes (butt).\n\nObvious benefits depending on duration are overall cardiovascular endurance.  However cyclists also benefit from sometimes dramatic strength gains and hypertrophy of the lower limbs.
474769
Eat more bananas and do some strengthening exercises
354393
I do and I feel great!\n\nCycling, rowing and swimming are the best general fitness and stamina-building sports - they don't overstress any part of the body, but they work out all the large muscle groups. Surprisingly cycling is as good for your chest, back and arms as it is for your legs and bum.\n\nIn between bike rides I play squash (seriously damaging, but I'm hooked) and I row pairs and sculls. I also walk a lot. I feel fine (cough, cough, wince, wince .. ;)
768433
I don't think so. Biking will make you a better biker. The leg muscles are different. Weight distribution is different. Biking will probably keep your cardio from falling off when you don't run. But the techniques are different - you can't coast when you are running. I used to be a long distance runner. But after a couple of knee scopings, a couple of foot operations, and a couple of back disk fractures, I am relagated to a bike. I call my bike a wheel chair for runners. :-)  I don't feel any where near the condition I was in from running. Look at Lance Armstrong. He did the New York marathon in just under 3 hours, and when he finished he said it was tougher than any bike race he had ever been in. He said it was tougher than the mountain passes during the LeTour de France. He more or less said winning 6 of the most grueling bike races did not prepare him to run a marathon. Running and biking are not the same.\nI agree biking will build your legs up, but that doesn't make you a better runner. The muscles in you thighs increase but only to hold your knees straight. There are no muscles in your knees to build up. The strength for biking does not come from your legs, it comes from your back and your ass. I don't agree that more muscles in your legs help in running - compare marathon runners legs to bikers legs. The bikers look like bull frogs. Their thighs are huge. I guess that is good if you want to run 50 yard dashes. But moving the extra weight is not what you want in your legs to do any distance running.
910634
Decreased use, and decreased weight bearing would normally be in order.  Short of obtaining a bike that unloads your upper body weight from your arms  (my choice due to my age) , you can  try modifying your bike to give you a more upright but less efficient position.\n\nObtaining a second more upright  bike (or a recumbent) would be a very good idea for this recovery period.  You could then switch back and forth depending on the problem with your arm.  \n\nBike adjustments for most efficient cycling are different from adjustments for injury recovery.\n\nYou might  also look for a Dr.'s advise who happens to be a regular cyclist.
529161
Go to build up your core muscles first. Thats your chest, your stomach, your gluts (butt), your thighs. By making sure these are strong (and strong does not always mean big), you protect yourself from future injury.\n\nWarm up for at least 10 minutes - the exercise bike is good for this, then start your weight session. Again, this helps stop injury. Start doing bench presses, do 10 at a comfortable weight, then rest, add a bit more weight, do another 10, rest again, more weight, then another 10. Gradually raise the starting weight after 2 weeks, and do this for a couple of months. Do the same with squats, and lat pulldowns (exercises back).\n\nDo sit ups, 10, rest, 10, rest, 10. Gradually raise this number over the weeks. Also do back extensions.\n\nLike I said, do these for first 2 or so months, this should increase your core power, and your body will get used to lifting heavier weights.\n\nDon't over do it though - at 18, you are still growing and developing. Make sure you take protein shakes within 30 minutes of ending your session. Either go for a real good quality one that mixes carbohydrates and protein, or make your own using skimmed milk powder, milk, powdered dextrose, and maybe a little neskwick to flavour.\n\nAfter this first couple of months, see how you are getting on - you might be satisfied with the results, or might want to train to get bigger - at this point, you should know a few guys at the gym, ask their advice, gym bunnies love being asked for training advice!
228818
I have a recumbent bike that is both very comfortable and gives me a better work out than a standard "riding" stationary bike.  I have one that also has magnetic resistance.  As for moving handles, I just use hand weights and that provides a better work out while riding and I can choose different movements during the work-out.
400715
I'll take a stab - form, endurance & strength training. Do interval work outs (sprints to develop fast twitch muscles), long climbs - stay in the saddle and spin; do a 60 mile ride a week ( average cadence) and then spend a few sessions in the gym to develop your legs - Once every two weeks do a time trial - same distance all the time and the same course - you will certainly get stronger. Hope this helps
977020
- lower back\n\n- some abs, but not much as lower back muscles are much more important\n\n- butt\n\n- triceps\n\n- anterior tibilias (the muscle near the shin)\n\n- most of your quad and calves\n\n- rectus femoris. you won't see this muscle unless you ride a lot \n\n- hamstrings\n\n- some forearm\n\n- hip flexors\n\nthose are justa few indescript muscles...