Which makes better toned legs... rower or bike?

[Anonymous]

I'm leaning towards buying a rowing machine because it gives a full body workout. However, I am wondering if I would be better off buying a bike/Peloton. I am self-conscious about my legs and want them to be skinnier/nicely toned. I can either buy a bike and supplement with upper body workouts. Or, I can buy a rower. Which one is better for the legs? Will my legs become bulky if I use the rower as my primary source of exercise?

[Anonymous]

Neither. Squats and lunges.

[Anonymous]

As a former competitive rower who has a Peloton, get the Peloton. Erging is deadly dull, and the better exercise is the only you'll actually do. Plus, you'll get all the off the bike stuff, like core, yoga, strength, etc. Also, unless you used to row, it's unlikely you'll get good enough technique on the erg to use it properly.

They work the legs roughly equally (albeit in different ways), but you get so much more variety on the bike. I mean, really. The erg is boring as hell. Did I mention that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Neither. Squats and lunges.

+1 and diet. You only get “toned” by putting on muscle and getting rid of the fat.

[Anonymous]

Squats, lunges, and genetics.

[Anonymous]

With legs in particular, genetics play a huge role. That's why you see men with chicken legs getting calf implants despite looking like bodybuilders otherwise. And why some people can be super skinny otherwise but have short, thick legs.

[Anonymous]

Stairs and hills. Going both up and down.

[Anonymous]

Cycling doesn't make your legs "skinnier." A lot of cyclists have really big quads. If you don't want your legs to grow at all, you prob have to cut way down on your calories and only do Tracy Anderson-style leg movements. I say this as someone who loves weight training (including big lifts, e.g. 5x5) and doesn't think skinnier legs are better. But weight training does not make my legs "skinny" and toned, it definitely makes them bigger and more muscular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cycling doesn't make your legs "skinnier." A lot of cyclists have really big quads. If you don't want your legs to grow at all, you prob have to cut way down on your calories and only do Tracy Anderson-style leg movements. I say this as someone who loves weight training (including big lifts, e.g. 5x5) and doesn't think skinnier legs are better. But weight training does not make my legs "skinny" and toned, it definitely makes them bigger and more muscular.

Yeah no, there are not cyclists with really big quads. There are cyclists who get so lean that their quad muscles "pop," but they're not getting bulky from cycling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cycling doesn't make your legs "skinnier." A lot of cyclists have really big quads. If you don't want your legs to grow at all, you prob have to cut way down on your calories and only do Tracy Anderson-style leg movements. I say this as someone who loves weight training (including big lifts, e.g. 5x5) and doesn't think skinnier legs are better. But weight training does not make my legs "skinny" and toned, it definitely makes them bigger and more muscular.

Yeah no, there are not cyclists with really big quads. There are cyclists who get so lean that their quad muscles "pop," but they're not getting bulky from cycling.

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/sports/clothing-start-ups-design-jeans-for-muscular-athletes.htmlThis is all about cyclists with big quads from cycling.

[Anonymous]

I would get the rower. Yes erging can be boring, but the workouts are short and sweet. And the bike gives me horrible saddle sores!

[Anonymous]

Peloton. My legs have never looked better. Even with years of yoga. Diet has been the same with both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Neither. Squats and lunges.

True! And running!

[Anonymous]

NP-what about the elliptical?

[Anonymous]

Rowing.

But it is true that the best exercise is the one you will do. Which one will you do?