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I'm trying to gain mass. I'm still wanting to bike, but am worried this may be hurting me from gaining the lean muscle mass I want. Could this be taking away from my ability to gain mass? Should I stop biking, or is it a-okay to ride while still trying to gain weight?

*edited to maybe get a reply*

Biking is great for gaining muscle in your legs and ass.

However, if you are biking marathons, then you're like a long-distance runner and you're going to have issues putting on muscle mass because your body is going to consume it.

Where is the magic line between the "ok to put on muscle mass" kind of biking and the "body will consume any undesired weight, including muscle" kind of biking? Some number of miles / week? Some maximum ride time? Maximum ride speed?

All depends on your unique metabolism, body configuration, eating patterns, and other lifestyle factors that influence your caloric burn/accumulation rate.

So the answer is, as usual: it depends.

Thanks Iguana for your help.

I would say as long as it doesn't interfere with your workouts on leg days then go for it. If you're too tired from bike riding to do an intense leg workout then ease up a bit on the bike riding in order to have the energy to pull through your weight lifting.

muchmorethanmuscle saidI would say as long as it doesn't interfere with your workouts on leg days then go for it. If you're too tired from bike riding to do an intense leg workout then ease up a bit on the bike riding in order to have the energy to pull through your weight lifting.

I would suggest too doing your biking at the end of your leg workout so that you bring down the levels of lactic acid that have accumulated in your legs. even if you have to bike at a slow pace, it'll do ya good in the end.

I pretty much ride my bicycle around town as my form of transportation. I do have a car but it's such a pain in the ass to find parking.

I think my legs have come along nicely but I'd like them bigger. I don't think it has been detrimental to the progress of my leg development.

Just my personal experience.

YES! Oh MY God! YES!

You're going to be eating a lot more since you'll be burning more calories, but DO IT!

SoDakGuy saidYES! Oh MY God! YES!

Down boy! Down!
Don't get too excited now!

From someone who had never tried to build muscle mass if you like biking BIKE. Don't give up something as healthy as biking because you're worried about not having a body that fits some people's idea of perfection. I've received plenty of compliments from my not so massive body and the best part is it formed by itself. All I had to do was play my sports.

Heh, well, I'm not trying to look better for anyone else; I've always just wanted bigger / better legs, calves mainly. I'm fairly tall at 6'2", and I've always been really skinny with stick legs. I'm trying to change that.

Lately I've tried to pedal harder, but going into a higher gear, so that it's not so much a cardiovascular workout, but having to pedal less only more intensely.

I'm assuming I should just take it easy on the biking on the day or two after leg days as to not overtrain? I'm still kinda new to weight training, but I think that's how it works...