Quote Originally Posted by GLC1968
This is true. But there are three things to consider:

1) muscle is more dense than fat which means that takes up less room. If you lose fat and gain muscle, you will be smaller...even in your legs. (this does mean that you need to lose fat though...just building up the muscle will make your legs bigger).

2) 98% of women do not have the genetic disposition to build BIG bulky muscles. I thought I was one of the 2% because I do put on muscle easily. I was wrong...even lifting very heavy, my legs only got smaller.

3) to build BIG muscles, you will need to lift VERY heavy...much heavier than even mashing big gears will do for you. (Unless, of course, climbing in the alps is your weekend ride!)

If you watch your diet and lose weight, your legs will get smaller, no matter how hard you hammer. The bad news is that making your leg to waist (or hip to waist) ratio much different by biking is probably not going to happen. This is predominantly governed by genetics and is very difficult to drastically change.
I agree with everything you said. As they say across the pond, "Spot On!"

Regarding leg exercises - if you're actively riding, you really don't need to focus on a lot of quad exercises but you DO need to strengthen those hamstrings.

Also, don't forget your upper body. Nice shaped delts (shoulder muscles) will drawn the eye up and will help normalize a pear shape.

Nutrition is the number one thing, though. You can ride for hours and demolish all of your hard work at Baskin Robbins in 15 minutes (or less if it's chocolate!).