The primary muscles in cycling – the pedaling cycle

Biceps, quadriceps, calves – seemingly it is almost everything that will allow us to  perform the cycle of pedaling efficiently. Meanwhile, the muscles of the legs alone are not enough for fast cycling for a long time. See what is  needed to get better and better results!

What are the primary muscles in every sports discipline? These are the parts that are used first when increasing speed (cadence) or force of movement (level of generated power). For cyclists, these are mainly hips and legs.

Pedaling cycle

In road cycling, the main pedal force is executed between 12 o’clock and 17 o’clock, if we compare the round pedaling cycle to a clock. That’s where the primary muscles used in cycling are  most active.

Tendons and ligaments connect the muscles of the legs with the hip and knee joints. This whole aparatus is entirely responsible, among other functions, for the amount of power generated on the bike.

The main pressure phase in the pedaling cycle starts when extending the hip, and then the knee when we press down vertically on the pedal. The beginning of the movement phase is a combination of the force of two muscles: gluteus maximus and quadriceps femoris.

Later on, biceps femoris and gastrocnemii muscles join in the work.

The power is generated in the cycle of pedaling by the largest muscle groups, namely:

• quadriceps femoris
• biceps femoris
• gluteus máximus
• hip muscles

Training of the primary muscles in cycling

To pedal harder and generate more power, you must increase the strength of the muscles used during pedaling. When training the of individual muscle groups, it is worth focusing on a holistic approach. The four most important elements are as follows:

1. Deep muscles (so-called core) – necessary for the proper development of specialized muscle parts, responsible for maintaining the correct body posture and increasing the generated power.
2. Leg muscles – can be developed by cycling exercises (low cadence), and workouts with weights (squats with a barbell, deadlift, uplift – all using both legs or one leg).
3. Cycling workouts – strength exercises sitting (mostly engage the quadriceps muscles) and standing (biceps and calves).

High cadence in a sitting position – it improves the stretching of the hips and rectus femoris muscle and also increases the strength of the calves.

4. Legs’ stretching after a workout – during training loads muscles are shortened. To increase their efficiency and speed of regeneration, it is worth simple stretching exercises after a workout (static), lasting 20-30sek, without pain, with a slight stretch sensation.

Practical applications

1. It is worth to train leg muscles so that the beginning of the movement phase occurs naturally through the hip, not the knee

This means that exercising the deep muscles and stretching the hips is necessary pedaling efficiency. Additionally, any exercise using only one leg (e.g., squats on one leg or pedaling with one leg) more strongly activates the hip joint than those performed with both legs at once.

2. You do not have to worry about “round pedaling” or “keeping constant pressure on the pedal” when riding.

While an nt cycle of pedaling can cause the feeling of spinning smoothly “in a circle,” what the muscles do to make you feel this way is entirely different. Our locomotor system has only one optimal way to generate energy through the lower body, and the easiest way is to adapt it to cycling. In other words, move the legs attached to the pedals  most naturally.

3. The primary muscles used in cycling will always do the most work necessary to generate power on the bike. Their strength, however, will be as high as the h of the organism as a whole.

Bibliography:

1. Baum, B. “Lower extremity muscle activities during cycling are influenced by load and frequency.”  Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 13 (2003) 181–190
2. Bijker, K., Groot, G., Hollander, A “Differences in leg muscle activity during running and cycling in humans” Eur J Appl Physiol (2002) 87: 556–561
3. Hug, F., Dorel, S. “Electromyographic analysis of pedaling: A review” Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 19 (2009) 182–198

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