Using an exercise bike develops your cardiovascular system and can burn a significant amount of calories. Those who consistently work out on an exercise bike can gain a lower risk of health-related issues and an increased ability to maintain a healthy body weight. Each major muscle group in the lower body plays a specific role in pedaling.
Glutes
Your glutes provide a significant amount of power while you're pedaling. The glutes extend the hips, or drive your legs backward, which is the movement that primarily propels the bike forward. The hip extension muscles produce 27 percent of the total amount of work necessary to pedal. The glutes are the largest and most powerful muscle group in the body.
Quadriceps
The quadriceps are a collection of four muscles that run down the front of your thighs. When they contract, they extend your knee joint. They're instrumental as you straighten your knees while you're pedaling. The quadriceps account for 39 percent of the total amount of work necessary to pedal.
Hamstrings
The hamstrings are a collection of three muscles that run down the back of your thigh. While the glutes do primarily most of the work, once your hip extends to a certain point, your hamstrings are recruited to assist to extend your hip joint even more.
Calves
Your two calf muscles, the gastrocnemius and soleus, run down the back of your lower leg. They offer plantar flexion and dorsiflexion for your ankle joint, which means as you pedal, they move your foot from a toes pointed up to a toes pointed down position. Your toes point and provide additional power as you extend your knee and drive your leg back. The calves account for 20 percent of the amount of work necessary to pedal.
Core
Your abdominals, obliques and lower back muscles contract to keep your torso appropriately aligned on the bike. They all contract isometrically, which means they maintain a constant contraction to keep your torso stiff and still.
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