4 Body Parts That Will Become Stronger Thanks to Cycling

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4 Body Parts That Will Become Stronger Thanks to Cycling

Cycling is not just a fun activity—it’s also a full-body workout. Practicing daily helps improve physical fitness, strengthen certain body parts, and offers long-term health benefits.
Regular cycling brings positive changes to the following body parts:

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Your lungs will get stronger

4 Body Parts That Will Become Stronger Thanks to Cycling

Cycling is an aerobic activity, meaning it mainly benefits the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Regular cycling helps your lungs adapt by increasing their capacity and efficiency, according to the health website Healthline (USA).

During exercise, your body demands more oxygen to fuel your muscles. In response, your breathing rate increases and your diaphragm becomes stronger. Over time, your lungs improve their ability to hold and exchange air.

A study published in the European Respiratory Journal found that regular aerobic exercises like cycling and running can enhance lung function and improve the body’s oxygen absorption. As a result, your lungs work more efficiently to bring oxygen into the blood and expel carbon dioxide, making you less likely to feel short of breath during physical activity.

In addition, stronger lungs can help reduce the risk of chronic conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and even respiratory infections.

Cycling strengthens your legs

One of the most noticeable benefits of daily cycling is stronger legs. Cycling primarily works the quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, and hip flexors. These muscle groups continuously contract and extend with each pedal stroke, improving endurance and building muscle over time.

A review published in the journal Sports confirmed that regular cycling enhances muscle strength, especially in the lower body, and helps maintain muscle mass, even in older adults.

Stronger core muscles

Although cycling may seem like a lower-body workout, it also engages your core muscles, including the abdominals, obliques, and lower back. These muscles are responsible for stabilizing your body as you ride, especially when tackling rough terrain, climbing hills, or riding hands-free.

The core plays a crucial role in balance. Over time, the constant need to stay balanced while cycling strengthens and improves the endurance of your core muscles.

Cycling builds stronger glutes

The glute muscles are heavily engaged during cycling, especially when riding uphill or pedaling at high intensity. These muscles help extend the hips and stabilize the pelvis throughout the pedaling motion. As a result, daily cycling stimulates the glutes, making them firmer and even increasing their size over time.

A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, cited by Healthline, found that the gluteus maximus is highly active during intense cycling efforts, particularly when climbing hills or carrying heavy loads.