Exercise bikes are types of cardiovascular equipment. The basic purpose of cardiovascular exercise is to strengthen your aerobic capacity while burning significant calories. Since you constantly move pedals from an upright or horizontal position on an exercise bike, you can expect to work multiple parts of your body while exercising. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, this type of cardio is low impact, generally quiet in operation and efficient with the use of space.
Quadriceps
The quads are the muscles found on the front of the thighs. Every time your knee goes from a bent to straight position, your quads are activated. This motion is known as knee extension. During pedaling, these muscles are worked when you push your foot down.
Glutes
The gluteus maximus muscles are found in your butt. They are worked when your upper leg goes from a bent to a straight position. In similar fashion to the quads, these muscles are worked when you push down on the pedals.
Hamstrings
The hamstrings are the muscles found on the backs of your thighs. They oppose the quads and they "flex" the knee. You work these muscles when your lower leg goes from a straight to bent position on the up stroke.
Calves
The calf muscles are found on the lower backside of the legs. They are involved with a motion known as plantar flexion. This takes place every time your toes point downward. You experience this as the cranks come around from the bottom to top position.
Anterior Tibialis
The word "anterior" means front. The anterior tibialis muscles run down the front of your shins and cause dorsi flexion, which is the opposite of plantar flexion. You see this motion when your toes point up in the air. As your feet move over the top position into the downward stroke, your anterior tibialis muscles are being worked.
Core
The abs are known anatomically as the rectus abdominis muscles and they are part of your core. The erector spinae are the core muscles found in the lower back. Whenever you pedal, both of these muscles are contracted to hold your body stable. If you increase the resistance on an upright exercise bike to the point where you have to stand up to pedal, the contraction is even greater.
Member Comments