Do you think that cycling has made your bum bigger?

[wasnotwasweregood]

Since lockdown I have been doing Zwift three times a week in the garage. I was definitely not a cyclist before and have managed to move from 20kms per hour to 30. I am definitely fitter and stronger and can really see a difference in the muscles of my thighs and bum. Everything feels firmer, which is great. However I'm also finding that my clothes are feeling a bit tighter and I definitely haven't lost anything from that area (which I'm quite disappointed with tbh). Cycling making my bum bigger not smaller was definitely not The Plan but DH reckons that it's not possible and he's literally never heard of that before.

I have not started eating or drinking more to compensate. I'm really thoughtful about what food I eat. Has anyone else experienced this?

Many thanks in advance.

You've probably done wonders for your glutes and have given yourself a great bum lift!

It depends on what type of cycling in my experience. Hill climbing will usually make you leaner than sprinting does. Can you focus more on long, steady climbs on zwift?

If this is correct then I’m going to take up cycling.. I lost my bum when pregnant.

I have also been Zwifting a lot in lockdown. Unfortunately not lost any weight as I have been eating too much but I do think weight has shifted a little as muscles get stronger.

On the plus side I am really enjoying Zwift and finding it very motivational.

Maybe that's it, just the muscles re-jiggling themselves, I have a horrible feeling you're right @theseriousmoonlight but I whimper in the face of Box Hill. I did it once, by mistake.

@Mumski45 I like Zwift too, much more than I thought I would when I started, feel really heartened by getting a 'Ride On'!

Thighs tend to get bigger

There was a thread a while ago where the OP was talking about her friend’s big bum, and a lot of confusion because it wasn’t immediately obvious that the OP viewed having a big bum as a good thing 😂

@wasnotwasweregood have you found the ladies only zwift facebook group. Its a very friendly chatting group with lots of advice and encouragement and a great place to get tips on which rides to do next. Zwift is a great place to practice climbing as you can just change down the gears and keep on plodding on.

My daughter has given up cycling because she read it makes your thighs chunkier.

Your muscles enlarge in the thigh/glutes area as they’re worked so much more but it’ll do wonders for your general health and fitness.

My arse looks like its been flattened by a steam roller. If cycling makes it even an inch bigger I'm getting on my bike more often

I can see this is going two ways - to be clear I was definitely looking to declutter rather than add to the junk in the trunk

ohhh I didnt know cycling does this, I might just have to give it a go!!

@wasnotwasweregood you don't have to do huge climbs. Slow, steady climbing is good for building stamina and should lead to a leaner shape if that's your aim. I know they're different in the fact they're make, but compare a Chris Froome (not a pure climber but more suited to that terrain than a flat sprint) body type to Mark Cavendish (a pure sprinter who still has to climb hills / mountains but would never win the polka dot jersey).
If you're cycling for fitness, I would recommend a mixture of stamina and speed.

Oh so how can I pump my bum and not my thighs? Is that possible with cycling.

OMG Plump not pump my bum!!

I joined zwift too in Feb/March due to my hubby's recommendations (I'm not a cyclist but he most definitely is) and am hooked. I haven't lost weight (need to lose a good stone) but have been comfort eating during lockdown. I think my thighs look bigger but my bum has "lifted" a bit, in my opinion it's always been big but saggy, lol! I've been building up to doing some longer and more hilly routes, today I did the mountain route....OMG! But I really enjoyed it...surprised myself. Ride On. X

I think I'm going to take up cycling

Cycling will make your glutes larger, giving a lovely firm bum. If you're not also losing fat, then your arse will get larger. So get into calorie deficit and you'll reduce the lardiness and have a really tight butt.

It can also make your waist smaller so bottom and thighs look bigger by comparison, but it will build up your legs and bottom to an extent. How much depends upon natural propensity, diet and type of cycling. Sprinting is very different from endurance.

Yes, that'll be it, too much cycling

Exercise does change your shape but it depends on your starting point if you get bigger. If you were very skinny, becoming more muscular will make you bigger, if you had fat to lose, being more muscular will more likely make you slimmer.

I did have to get rid of all my calf length boots , as my calves got too chunky.

@Mumski45 thank you that group looks great - I've applied to join.

@theseriousmoonlight that's an interesting comparison, now I've mastered gears I'll start looking at elevation a bit more.

I did a lot of competitive breaststroke swimming as a kid so I guess it's possible the cycling's woken all those muscles up.

Thank you all this has been really helpful.