The American Heart Association recommends getting at least 30 minutes of moderately intense aerobic exercise most days of the week to help keep your heart and body healthy and strong. One way to meet this goal is through using a bike, whether a stationary bicycle in a fitness center, or biking outdoors.
Calf
Your calf muscles are one of the most worked muscle groups when on a bicycle and they consist of the gastrocnemius and the soleus. These muscles are worked as you elevate or raise the heel when pedaling the bicycle.
Quadriceps
The quadriceps also get strengthened as you ride a bicycle. They consist of the vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis and the rectus femoris. These muscles are worked each time you straighten or extend the knee while pedaling the bicycle.
Hamstrings
Riding a bike also strengthens the hamstrings, which consist of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles. These muscles are primarily used on the bike when you bring your heel towars your rear, in knee flexion.
Glutes
Just above the hamstrings are the gluteus muscles consisting of the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and the gluteus maximus. These muscles are worked whenever you abduct the leg, or move it away from the center line of your body.
Heart and Lungs
Not only does bicycling work your skeletal muscles, it also works your lungs and heart. Exercising on the bike increases your cells' need for oxygen. To meet this need, both your heart rate and respiratory rate are increased, which strengthens the heart and lungs over time.
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