Cycling Forums - View Single Post - Low Impact ways to build leg muscle mass?

11-03-2003, 10:13 PM

Hey all..
I'm trying to get a bit of an excercise plan set for this winter. I'm not
training for anything specific, I just want to lose a bit of weight and be
faster on the bike next summer, and more fit in general.

I'd like to build up leg muscle, which I figure would require weight lifting
excercises. The problem with that is that about 6 years ago, I had a
dislocated patella (playing hockey) and had a few knee surguries. My knee
definately feels stable now, but some of the leg excercises just plain scare
me. It's probably a mental block, but still. Just doing a dry lifting action
with my leg (raising my foot up while sitting in a chair) makes some
cracking noises that I really hate, and feel like they are very damaging. So
I hate doing that movement, and would definately NOT want to do it with
weight on my leg.

Squats seem scary, especially with a lot of weight. With a bit of weight, I
don't mind them. Calf raises are no problem, and neither are the leg curls
that work the hamstring. I'm not familiar with the names of the muscle
groups, or much about the excercises, but, it seems like the main muscles
used in cycling would be in the front of the thigh.. so, not wanting to do
leg extensions, I don't really know how else to develop those muscles. Leg
presses maybe? (although I don't have equipment for that)

For equipment, I really only have rollers. My guess is that the lack of
resistance on rollers wouldnt' really lend themselves towards building
muscle mass... Maybe if I had something with a lot of resistance, sort of
like climbing a really steep hill?

As you can see, I'm new to the whole body/physical side.. I usually just
ride.

Mike
http://mikebeauchamp.com

11-03-2003, 10:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mike Beauchamp Guest Posts: n/a	Low Impact ways to build leg muscle mass? Hey all.. I'm trying to get a bit of an excercise plan set for this winter. I'm not training for anything specific, I just want to lose a bit of weight and be faster on the bike next summer, and more fit in general. I'd like to build up leg muscle, which I figure would require weight lifting excercises. The problem with that is that about 6 years ago, I had a dislocated patella (playing hockey) and had a few knee surguries. My knee definately feels stable now, but some of the leg excercises just plain scare me. It's probably a mental block, but still. Just doing a dry lifting action with my leg (raising my foot up while sitting in a chair) makes some cracking noises that I really hate, and feel like they are very damaging. So I hate doing that movement, and would definately NOT want to do it with weight on my leg. Squats seem scary, especially with a lot of weight. With a bit of weight, I don't mind them. Calf raises are no problem, and neither are the leg curls that work the hamstring. I'm not familiar with the names of the muscle groups, or much about the excercises, but, it seems like the main muscles used in cycling would be in the front of the thigh.. so, not wanting to do leg extensions, I don't really know how else to develop those muscles. Leg presses maybe? (although I don't have equipment for that) For equipment, I really only have rollers. My guess is that the lack of resistance on rollers wouldnt' really lend themselves towards building muscle mass... Maybe if I had something with a lot of resistance, sort of like climbing a really steep hill? As you can see, I'm new to the whole body/physical side.. I usually just ride. Mike http://mikebeauchamp.com