Saddlebags (ugly leg type) from cycling?

[kbbnyc11]

Has anyone found that bc of cycling, they have developed "saddlebags?" I had a tiny friend who did lots of distance work and I couldn't figure out why she had these big outer thighs. Since I've started road biking (as opposed to mtn biking, which had no effect) I am getting the same thing. Ick! I love the cycling but like nice legs too!

[redrhodie]

I wouldn't call a developed muscle a saddle bag. If you're getting bulky, I wonder if you need to put it in an easier gear and up your cadence?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

saddlebags are fat deposits on the sides of the lower hips and upper thighs.
Muscular thighs have nothing to do with that.

[Grog]

Muscular thighs are great, and indeed have nothing to do with saddlebags which are either, well, under your saddle, or fat deposits. Definitely not caused by cycling (unless you like a bit too much alfredo sauce on your pasta).

[Eden]

I think that the upper thigh area is a particularly hard fat deposit to get rid of.... As you cycle and slim down the rest of your body, that bit waits for absolute last so it looks bigger...

[Biciclista]

the best way to get rid of that fat is nurse a baby. Has nothing to do with cycling. :D:D:D:cool::cool::cool:

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

the best way to get rid of that fat is nurse a baby. Has nothing to do with cycling. :D:D:D:cool::cool::cool:

True, it just melts right off! Unfortunately, the effects don't last for 30 years. :cool:

[polly4711]

+1 to eden

[wnyrider]

Came across this photo last night in a joke forum... reminded me of this thread!

http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/wnyer/bicylethighs.jpg

[sundial]

Lol!!

[Smilie]

Ack! That pic is hilarious!

[Miranda]

I think that the upper thigh area is a particularly hard fat deposit to get rid of.... As you cycle and slim down the rest of your body, that bit waits for absolute last so it looks bigger...


+1 to eden


Yep, I agree with this. That is where my last bit of fat is. You can see my rib bones, but the bags are still hanging out.

I think some of it has to do with your body type and where you normally carry weight. For me, it's always been south, like a "pear". One of my best GFs is an "apple"... carries it in the middle.

I just keep this in mind...

Bike shorts are lycra and help hold the bags in. Black is slimming. For bathing suits, I've found a boy short works well for bags as a bikini bottom. Versus a traditional brief style. Something about the square shaped helps to make it look like curves, vs bags.

[lph]

This doesn't really have much to do with anything, but... I haven't biked as much as I used to for the past 2-3 months due to injury, lots of snow and different priorities, and yesterday I discovered that I've "non-biked" myself right into a pair of jeans that I thought I had "biked myself out of"... They're no longer uncomfortably tight over the thighs.

I'm not quite sure if I'm happy that I have the jeans back, or annoyed that I've lost all that leg muscle. It also neatly explains why I've apparently lost a little weight while getting nowhere nearer my lifelong goal of having a waist ;)

[Grog]

This doesn't really have much to do with anything, but... I haven't biked as much as I used to for the past 2-3 months due to injury, lots of snow and different priorities, and yesterday I discovered that I've "non-biked" myself right into a pair of jeans that I thought I had "biked myself out of"... They're no longer uncomfortably tight over the thighs.


I was having the exact same thought yesterday.

Thankfully I'm turning my dissertation in tomorrow and will be cycling my head out until I get the revisions back from my committee!!

[CyclChyk]

What is so ironic for me is that for 35 years I couldn't lose my saddlebags to save my life. One of my nicknames growing up was "Thunderthighs" (I have a weird family) but when I started riding, they disappeared. For the first time in my life I have no saddlebags. Life is good! :D

[ASammy1]

It really does depend on your body type...

Most women lose from the top down. I happen to lose from the bottom up. Last Sept I did a boot camp for a month and lost 4% body fat during that month. I lost almost 2 inches from my thighs a half inch from my waist and ZERO on my arms. Go figure!

[Tokie]

If you go to a womens bike race, you will see impressive strong thighs of many configurations! Most strong cyclists do not have legs like Barbie! There is a woman track racer who writes on her blog about trying to get Michael Ball of Rock Racing (and some expensive jeans company) to make "Keirin Cut" jeans for her "massive" muscular thighs (when jeans fit her thighs they are huge on her waist) tokie

[indigoiis]

Yeah, I have ridden myself out of several really nice pairs of LEIs, my favorite (well, useta be) jeans. The material in the thigh area is just too tight to be comfortable.

My DH wears wranglers around the farm, and they look so comfortable, but I just couldn't bring myself to buy myself a pair. So I went to the thrift shop and bought a pair of men's Levis, standard/classic fit, 30/30 and while they are a little big on the top, they are way comfy on the thigh.

[dex]

So I went to the thrift shop and bought a pair of men's Levis, standard/classic fit, 30/30 and while they are a little big on the top, they are way comfy on the thigh.

Find yourself a tailor or seamstress. For $5-15 (depending on the going rates in your area), you can get those thrift store jeans nipped in and get an awesome "custom" fit.

[cylegoddess]

wow! I feel better! I was looking at myself last night, and forgot to say ' hey check out my big thigh muscles and sort of looked at the whole thing. Well Ive got very little fat on body( my ribs show too) but a sort of generous handfull on side of each thigh. I wouldnt mind so much, but I got 'thunderthighs' as a girl too! ( and they were indeed,large!)n Sort of reminds me of chickens!( see my profile, when your little - it shows up even more!)
I dont mind so much except jeans dont fit either! Looks like cargo pants. I started to wear my non chamois bike shorts, as regular, and roubaix pants for cold! And tights as pants... Its much comfier( and easy for other cyclists to find you, in normal places which is a plus for meeting new buddies) but wearing out gear! Why cant there be a line of clothing for us?( and I dont mean Assios - see fatcyclist.com - top posts)


Oh and partner said, oh dont get those huge thighs like those riders. I hate those. I dont want to be with someone looking like that( bastard!)

So I said, gee Im going to miss you!!!

One word - A line skirts!!
As I said before, some people call em saddlebags, I call em insulation for winter rides!