Muscles Targeted with a Stationary Bike

Pedaling a stationary bike in the privacy of your home or while visiting a gym helps you improve your cardiovascular conditioning and burn calories without harming your joints. This form of exercise is also a way to strengthen a number of your major muscle groups, which leads to greater performance and less risk of injury during everyday tasks and exercise.

Riding a stationary bike works your core, in addition to your lower body. (Image: kzenon/iStock/Getty Images)

Not Just For Your Lower Body

As you pedal the stationary bike, you're strengthening a multitude of muscles concurrently. Pedaling works your glutes and hip flexors, plus leg muscles such as your quadriceps, calves and hamstrings. Keeping your body upright as you pedal strengthens your abdominals and obliques. Tightening your core muscles during your stationary bike workout can help you work toward increased strength in this region.