Does Cycling Burn Belly Fat?

Cycling is an effective way to burn body fat in general, but it can be an especially effective way to reduce belly fat if you incorporate some HIIT into your cycling routine, and (most importantly), improve your dieting habits. 

Here’s the deal: if you can be consistent in cycling, cultivate a cycling habit of alternating between short bursts of high speed and moderate intensity, and take care of your diet, you will notice a great reduction in your overall body fat, and especially around the belly.

Let’s expand on this, and give you some clear instructions on how to lose belly fat with cycling.

We will also recommend the best bicycles you should be checking out (depending on where you live) to help you boost your fat burning process as you cycle. 

So, stick around!

How Cycling Burns Belly Fat

So here’s how it works: for you to lose fat in general, you need to create a calorie deficit. Creating a calorie deficit entails burning more calories than you consume. 

Cycling is a great cardiovascular exercise, meaning it elevates your heart rate, strengthens your cardiovascular system, and improves endurance, all of which go a long way to burn calories and create a deficit.

If your target is to burn belly fat through cycling, consider incorporating high-intensity interval training (HIIT) into your cycling routine and paying strict attention to your diet. Here are three things you must do:

• Cycle consistently: this will help you burn a measure of fat throughout your body
• Incorporate HIIT into your cycling routine: alternating between short bursts of high-speed pedaling and moderate-intensity riding will significantly boost fat loss, increase metabolism, and improve endurance.
• Eat right: this will ensure that the calories you burn are not replaced.

The first two tips will not work effectively if you fail to take care of your diet. A lot of 

Does Cycling Work the Muscles?

The benefits of cycling do not end there: cycling works crucial muscles in your core and legs (including glutes) and can benefit you in other sports and activities like running. 

Cycling engages multiple muscle groups, making it a fantastic full-body workout. Here are the primary muscles that cycling targets:

• Quadriceps (front of thighs): These muscles power the pedaling motion, especially during the downward stroke.
• Hamstrings (back of thighs): Work to pull the pedals up and assist in smooth cycling movement.
• Calves: Help with stability and propulsion during each pedal stroke.
• Core Muscles (abs and lower back): Engaged to maintain balance and stability on the bike.
• Arms and Shoulders: Used when gripping the handlebars and maintaining control, especially during climbs or rough terrain.

Since cycling engages so many muscles, it’s an excellent workout for improving strength, endurance, and overall body tone. 

Does Cycling Help Build Glutes?

Cycling helps strengthen and tone the glutes: your glutes are engaged when you push down on the pedals, especially when riding uphill or standing. If you frequently ride uphill or use a higher gear, cycling helps you develop well-sculpted and firmer glutes over time.

If your goal is to build stronger, more defined glutes by cycling, try incorporating the following into your riding routine:

1. Hill climbs
2. High-resistance pedaling,
3. standing sprints into your rides.

Does Cycling Help with Running?

It is quite unclear to what extent cycling can help a person become a better runner, but theoretically, if you are consistent in cycling, you should get better at running. Besides, several individuals have reported a remarkable increase in their running capacity after taking up cycling.

Before exploring some testimonials, here are 2 reasons why cycling should make you a better runner:

• Cycling is a form of cardio, and cardio strengthens your heart and lungs, boosting endurance and stamina for long distance runs.
• Cycling helps build leg strength in your quads, hamstrings, and calves, which can in turn improve your running efficiency.

By incorporating cycling into your routine, you should be able to enhance your running performance while reducing the risk of injury.

Some Attestations

For these and more attestations, click here

• The first gentleman built a massive aerobic base from cycling 5500 miles in a year, and then decided to transition back into running—jumping straight into a 10K as a “starting point.” He reports a remarkable increase in his running speed.
• Another runner tried cycling as a form of cross training and it enabled them to work out their legs while “giving my knees a break”.
• The third runner in his 50s (at time of writing) was able to work his way back from a hamstring tear and have his best running year in 2022 after switching to indoor biking.

Best Bicycles for Losing Weight (To Lose Belly Fat)

If you are looking to burn belly fat, you can choose between a mountain bike, a road bike, or a hybrid bike. Each of these bikes can be best in different scenarios depending on what your riding preferences are, and (maybe) the state you live in. Here are some recommendations: 

Try a Mountain Bike

Mountain bikes are best if you want a full body workout that engages more muscles including your core and upper body.

Riding a mountain bike requires more energy expenditure, leading to higher calorie burn.

With a 350W brushless gear motor and a 48V 10.4Ah high-tech lithium battery, the Viribus Panther Electric Mountain Bike goes up to a range of 20-40 miles per charge. It is designed to enhance your cycling experience by combining robust performance with user-friendly features.

Road Bikes are a Good Option Too

Road bikes are lightweight, which makes them best for speed and endurance. Here’s why you should consider a road bike for cycling:

• They are great for long-distance rides, keeping your heart rate up.
• It encourages high-intensity efforts like hill climbs and sprints.

The Viribus BZ1 Step-Thru Electric Bike is the perfect road bike for you to burn belly fat and build your glutes as you commute to work, run errands, or simply enjoy a leisurely ride. It offers the perfect blend of style, comfort, and performance. 

A Hybrid Bike: A Bit of Everything

Hybrid bikes are a mix between road and mountain bikes, and they are ideal if you live in a big city where you can find light trails.  Allows steady-state cardio and interval workouts.

For a hybrid bike, you want to check out the Viribus Cruising bike. This bike comes with a chic rattan front basket and rear rack, a 7-speed Shimano derailleur, and is crafted from high carbon steel.

Why You Should Start Cycling Today

Whether your goal is to burn belly fat, build strength, or improve endurance, cycling is a powerful workout that delivers incredible benefits. It’s easy on the joints, great for full-body toning, and an excellent way to boost overall fitness. Plus, it’s a fun and sustainable exercise that can be enjoyed by people of all fitness levels.

So, if you’re looking for a new way to get fit, grab your bike and start pedaling! Your body (and your health) will thank you. Also, here are 4 reasons you might want to cycle with your partner.

As a self-proclaimed bicycle fanatic, I’m James Carter, and I’ve been riding and racing bikes for over 20 years. Sunshine California is where I was born and raised. Now I live in Boulder, Colorado. I know a lot about designing and fixing bikes, and I’ve written for a few well-known bicycle magazines. I want to use easy language to explain complicated technology so that everyone can enjoy riding a bike.