leg mass and/or definition without weights

[jarabbit]

Was curious to the opinions of building up a nice set of legs with limited or no weight training in that area. I've been doing cycling/mountain biking and wind sprints in the deep sand as well as strenous hiking and all of them pump my legs up big time! You have seen the sprinters and pro cyclists and they all have great leg development that would make most of us envious.
Now I'm not advocating you don't hit your legs in the gym, namely with squats, but curious to the opinions or actual results from people who do just that. On a side not I notice most of the definition and size in my calves frmo these activities.

 

[Lift Or Die]

Unless you're a genetic freak there's no way you can build a massive set of wheels without heavy weights.

There was something on t.v. with the Tour de France and everyone of those cyclists have toothpicks for legs. I was not impressed with there leg development. Some sprinters have decent legs but they still lack the mass.

I'll stick to heavy squats and leg presses for best results.

 

[jarabbit]

I'd take a set of legs that many of those cyclists have! They aren't skinny they are ripped, vascular and have some decent size. I know you won't build massive tree trunks with this type of training but I'm not looking to be a monster anyway, more interested in the symetry and aesthetic look of my body.

 

[Enigmaxxx7]

I had a friend that was always skinny and could never build up muscle ANYWHERE. He took up cycling and about a year later I saw him and his legs were killer. I was jealous. Ever since then I thought about adding serious cycling to my routine but never have.

 

[Raffaz]

Alot of the pro cyclists use weight training in their routines. I read it in a book a few years, but i cant remember what it was called.

 

[AnabolicDiabetic]

I built very big legs without any weight training at all. Here's what my training was like:

Stadium step running
Hill running
100 meter strides/sprints
Hill riding on bike

This is a torturous way to achieve big legs though. You will get results much faster with weight training although doing both is best.

 

[CYCLEON]

AnabolicDiabetic - has got the ticket. Sprints and step running will give u some big ol legs but it aint gonna be any fun and uv got to do it more often than weights. Best is to train weights and do sprints/stairs -theyll be bug then I guarantee