big thighs - myth or reality?

[newcyclist]

Hi,

I've been cycling everywhere since I got a bike six months ago - and the front of my thighs has gotten hard and ... bigger.

I don't want huge thighs.

Will they keep growing?

Thanks!

[Selkie]

I guess it's a matter of what you like. It's a fact that biking will give you strong legs. I am very proud of my muscular legs and cycling has given me what some might consider "big" thighs/glutes. They get me up tough hills, and allow me to ride hard & long.

[doc]

2 things will determine your ultimate thigh size. One is whether you're a masher or a spinner. Spinners will look more lean like a runner. Mashing with lots of power at low cadence is closer to weight lifting. The other, and this is the biggie, is your genetics. As a female you'll never be huge. But some people tend toward big bulky muscles and some tend toward long and stringy. Can't do anything about that but love your new strong and hard legs.

[CR400]

Don't worry as a woman unless you take male hormones, your legs will never get really huge. And even they have to get down to a low level of body fat to get all ripped. They may get bigger then they were before but not by much. I think most of us would rather have slightly bigger legs that are full of well conditioned muscle, then legs that are mostly fat. Yes even thin women that don't work out such as cycling have more fat in their legs then they would have. Remember thin does not always mean little fat and fit. Or big mean out of shape and fat.

I mean my thighs are still 20.5 inches. and you can see most of the muscles move as I ride, sign of low body fat in that area.

[alpinerabbit]

Be proud of your motors....

[Geonz]

From what I've seen in folks in the bike club, your thighs won't get that much different than their natural shape. Bulking up just doesn't happen as much for women.
On the other hand, it's not as if I care in the least. I am a little concerned about general flexibility.

[sydney_b]

Be proud of your motors....

Gotta agree with alipinerabbit on this one. Whatever you might think is unattractive about more muscular thighs will be insignificant when you exude the confidence and good attitude that often accompanies a fit and healthy body and mind.

/s

[spudfun]

Hey,
I've been mtbiking for years but I have been working out at the gym (elyptical) and mountain biking much more seriously these past 6 months and I have to say although I LOVE to MTB, and my friends that MTB with me are great, this thigh thing is soooo depressing! Not only have I gained like 7 or 8 lbs (it cannot all be muscle!?) but my thighs are huge! They DO get my up some pretty hard climbs and I love their strength, but hey I did not want way bigger legs! Frankly I am not ready to embrace the beauty of my big thighs because they really aren't attractive. Other than pilates (sp?) are there any other suggestions on elongating the leg muscles!!

thanks!

[jovana]

i am 5feet and 5 inch tall,have 106lbs,and ave a musclle tighs .i think it is pretty and i am proud of it.fat is much less attractive than huge musscle legs...in summer when i am wearing a shorts everyone looks at my legs.one thing more:they tell about how much i cycle and how i love it!

[spokewench]

I love my BIG THIGHS and BOOTY. Can't have big thighs without that nice strong butt. They go hand and hand and they are SEXY!

[missymaya]

I've lived with my big thighs for quite a long while and I'm pretty used to it. But, when I'm on the trainer, which is parked right next to a 'shiny '62 mercury, and notice my thighs pushing to get me through the work out in the reflection, I couldn't be more greatful and impressed! To see them flexed and doing their thing, I think it's pretty hot. I love my muscular thighs!

[lacyliz]

I have been almost totally reshaped by cycling. I've also lost 28 lbs in the last year- at 5'5" and 127 lbs at 42 years of age I feel better than ever - plus I LOVE cycling. It also helps to keep what should be standing up standing up . I wonder if the men are this concerned about their thigh size. I bet they want bigger thighs...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

i am 5feet and 5 inch tall,have 106lbs,and ave a musclle tighs .i think it is pretty and i am proud of it.fat is much less attractive than huge musscle legs...

I think the MOST attractive thing is to have a good balance between fat and muscle. That looks really good. Having no fat at all is not healthy and doesn't look good either, like those scary skeleton supermodels.

[missymaya]

heck, those super skinny supermodels dont even have muscle. I was browsing through the stations the other night, taking a little mental siesta from studying and stumbled upon americas next top model and apparenlty the cool thing about this year was that they picked 2 "plus size" models. These 2 ladies looked pretty normal and, hold onto your seat for this one, healthy, to me.
Besides, anybody standing next to those ladies, with their winky dinky thighs and twiggy arms, would look plus sized.

[spudfun]

ya, i agree, emaciated is not a good look and i would take ours over that. plus there's the whole unseen healthy thing like lower cholestrol, happy heart, etc from cycling...not to mention the emotional benefits...it helps keep my anxiety in check.