Pedaling Technique: Which part of the leg do you use?

[summerdays]

I couldn't tell you other than when one bit aches ... then that is the bit I notice! I probably notice other peoples legs more (always wondering why I can see their defined leg muscles but not mine!!!)

 

[sheffgirl]

On big hills, I try to make use of the bigger muscles in my thighs by standing up and pedalling, it must be working because the outsides of my thighs are getting pretty solid now

 

[araapatlio]

Thanks for the responses

 

[Sara_H]

I've never thought about which bit of my leg I use most, but I am very conscious of the fact that my left leg is a "passenger" and my right leg does most of the work.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

On big hills, I try to make use of the bigger muscles in my thighs by standing up and pedalling, it must be working because the outsides of my thighs are getting pretty solid now

Nay, that can't be the reason. I got Thunder Thighs without ever standing up

 

[uclown2002]

ffs just go spin the pedals. Nothing to think about.

 

[Sara_H]

On big hills, I try to make use of the bigger muscles in my thighs by standing up and pedalling, it must be working because the outsides of my thighs are getting pretty solid now

I'm in Sheffield too, I cycle from Norton down into abbeydale and up to the hospitals daily. Can't understand why I haven't got thighs like Beyonce, but ho hum!

 

[ayceejay]

It is worth thinking about without obsessing, if you are just riding to work on your Raleigh 'all steel' then the advice given above is what you need, on the other hand a little thought might help prevent injury or help deal with one when it arrives.
The items on your list (knees feet and thighs) are mechanical or skeletal parts of your body and cannot move unassisted, although 'thighs' is vague and you may mean the muscles. It is the muscles that are the movers and knowing what muscles move the knees may help with your enquiry, the legs move from the hips and what muscles do this may also help, the same with the ankles. One part of the leg plays a bigger part than the others when engaging in a variety of speed terrain etc but this comes automatically and most people don't think about it.
If considering these things increases your enjoyment of riding I say go for it.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I'm in Sheffield too, I cycle from Norton down into abbeydale and up to the hospitals daily. Can't understand why I haven't got thighs like Beyonce, but ho hum!

I do
Sadly the rest of me is nothing like her, so they just look like what they are .... massive thighs

 

[Sara_H]

I do
Sadly the rest of me is nothing like her, so they just look like what they are .... massive thighs

Mine are more like lovely soft pillows. They come in useful sometimes.

 

[summerdays]

I remember there was once a thread about thigh size on here many years ago ...

 

[Sara_H]

I remember there was once a thread about thigh size on here many years ago ...

Maybe we should resurrect it?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Maybe we should resurrect it?

This one is fairly recent.

 

[summerdays]

That's not the one - if I remember correctly people were actually stating their thigh measurements

 

[Pat "5mph"]

That's not the one - if I remember correctly people were actually stating their thigh measurements

I remember that one! Did not measure and compare ... why depress myself?