There are so many ways to get your muscles moving – and biking is one of the best. It gets you outside so you can breathe in the fresh air as you enjoy the sights around you. Yet it still gives you an opportunity to get your muscles going and get a workout in throughout the entire experience.

People young and old can hop on a bike and reap the benefits.

Muscles Activated While Biking

Biking works out a few different muscle groups – especially those in the lower half of the body. Having an understanding of what muscles are used in biking can help you get better prepared for a long trip or at least to protect yourself from getting injured.

So just what are these muscles? They include the shin muscles, calf muscles, quadricep muscles, hamstring muscles, and the gluteus maximus. Let’s take a closer look at each.

Shin Muscles

The shin muscles, more formally known as Tibialis Anterior, are those in the lower, front part of your leg. As you pedal, you are using this muscle in each leg.

Calf Muscles

The calf muscles are also used with pedaling the bike, primarily when you are pushing down. If you pay attention to cyclists who ride regularly, you will notice this muscle is built up quite a bit.

Quadricep Muscles

Often referred to as the quads, the quadriceps are the large muscles located in the front and side of the upper leg. Quads are broken into 4 sections, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius. The vastus lateralis and vastus medialis are the two that get the biggest workout when pedaling a bike.

Hamstring Muscles

The hamstring muscles run all the way down the back of your legs from your hips and cross in the back of your knee. Their workout comes in due to a biker bending the hip and knee while having to put pressure on the pedal to push down.

Gluteus Maximus

Where does your power to ride the bike come from? Right here with the glutes. That’s right – this is where the downward force for pedaling initiates. The more you ride your bike, the more toned and tight the glutes will get.

Other Muscle Groups Used

Even though the majority of the muscles used in bike riding come from the lower half of the body, it doesn’t mean they are the only muscles used. You will find that the arm’s biceps and triceps will feel the muscle workout as well as the shoulder’s deltoids and your abdominal muscles.

All kinds of muscles throughout the body are used in order to keep the bike moving, hold your form, and help you remain balanced and in an upright position.

Whether you are going for a leisurely stroll or a serious bike ride, it is always a good idea to stretch all these muscles after a ride.

Activate Your Muscles with Mountain Riders

Working out and getting the heart pumping, the blood flowing, and the muscles activated can be done anywhere when you are talking about biking. And that means an adventure atop Haleakala in Maui is no exception.

Whether you are looking for sunrise tours, pre-dawn bike tours, daytime tours, or self-guided bike tours down the slopes of Maui’s Haleakala Volcano, Mountain Riders is what you are looking for.

To learn more, contact us at 808-877-4944. Or book your adventure online.