Someone just tried telling me that cycling makes you put on weight around the belly and hips ... now all I notice is that it beefs up my thighs .. which are already the size of elephants legs (boyf says they are athletic .. think he's just trying to keep me happy!) but does anyone else think they put weight on around the middle from cycling ... seems a really odd thing to say.

surely it depends what else you're doing with the cycling .. ie oh I've done 15 miles lets reward myself with a McDonalds .. now that's not going to be very beneficial!!!

Just wondered as the person who said it is mega mega fit and I thought it was a wierd comment to make!!! plus I'm trying to loose about 2 inches from around my waist but otherwise happy, just trying to cane the fitness and eat mega healthy .....

Maybe it's more that cycling doesn't really work your stomach much so less toned = weightier appearance. Weightloss isn't targeted depending on what activity you do.

Is annoying though that even shorts made for biking don't seem to take into account the fact that somebody biking is likely to have larger thighs than the average person relative to their waist.

I agree with above that cycling does not really tone your belly area but I don't think it makes you put on weight in this area.  I carry my weight around my middle and I have certainly lost some since cycling more regularly.  As with other cardio activities riding your bike will help you burn fat all over but the only sure fire way to tone your tum is to do those lovely sit ups that we all so enjoy! 

The above is exactly what I thought, it's wierd what other non cyclists think!

weight loss and gain generally relates to your body type and not necessarily your sport, as fat will be stored where your body stores it best - for some it will be around your stomach, others hips, some thighs.

I always loose weight from the top down, so chest, waist etc then hips then thighs, but then with the cycling my thighs have toned, but not reduced - obviously the muscles have increased too.  Measured myself the other day and my waist is only 4 inches bigger than one of my thighs, so trouser buying is a nightmare.  For some reason Next jeans aren't too bad, although the waist is still too big, but the thighs are quite generous on their kick flare, boyfriend and bootcut jeans...skirts are good

 Like Trio says, if you want to tone up a specific area then you need to work it - so maybe if you're toning up your legs from cycling you need to do something else to tone up your upper body and middle.

Have always tried to do some gym work, gone a bit astray over past couple of years, but now my son is older I can leave him at home in the evenings + go to the gym a bit more, better still have just had him on an induction so now he can come with me.

Have never thought cycling alone is good for shaping you up in specific areas, obviously upper arms and core stability muscles also need to be worked, am also conscious of seeing some of those elderly cyclists who have a very stooped round shouldered body and do not want to be like that as I get older.

I think cycling and deep breathing tends to depress the diaphragm pushing the stomach muscles out, so you do need work on them.