Is there a difference in the muscles used when I use the horizontal or vertical handlebars? It does seem to completely re-align my body when I shift handles.
Also, is there a difference between the muscles used/caloric burn of the upright stationary bikes and reclining stationary bikes?
Thanks.
I have no idea about the handlebars, but the further in front of the seat the pedals are, the more work is done by the glutes and hamstrings.
Thanks, floggingsully. So what muscles are used when the pedals are underneath the seat?
Regardless of where the seat is the main movers are your quads, glutes and hamstrings. The balance of work is always shared between the quads and glutes/hamstrings but shifts to some degree as the seat moves in relation to the pedals.
I really have no idea how much of a difference it makes other than it makes some difference. Triathlon bikes tend to have steaper seat tube angles (which puts the pedals closer to being directly under the seat) to shift some of the work to the quads and save the glutes/hams for the run, but these are also bikes used by people who are willing to spend $600 for handlbars that are a few ounces lighter.
It makes an enormous difference, actually. The farther forward the cranks are in relation to the saddle, the greater the contribution from the hams and glutes. The quads are always involved, but they are better able to share the load if you're not sitting right on top of the pedals, and you can generate greater total power, too. There is also increased recruitment from the core when the saddle is farther back in relation to the cranks (my lower back sure feels it after a long, tough ride).
The main motivation for a steeper seat tube angle on tri bikes and on TT bikes is to open up the hip angle when the rider is down low on the aero bars. This allows for both better breathing and better digestion. Essentially, on one of those aero bikes, your entire position is rotated forward, if you want to think of it that way.
Folks on a budget can simulate that position by flipping a setback seatpost around, raising the saddle, and adding clip-on aerobars. It can take awhile to tune the position though--make sure you record your every day road position first, so that you can get back to it easily.
Thanks for the advice guys. This is what I suspected - it did feel like I was using those glutes more when I used the further forward handles, but it's nice to have it confirmed.
