What is it about biceps?

99% of guys in commercial gyms are bicep boys. A lot of us would have started out in the iron game because we wanted 'big biceptz'. Having big guns is cool, an impressive bicep peak will impress girls and guys alike. But most average people wouldn't say 'WOW look at the back thickness on that guy!' for example. When a kid watches Arnie in a movie the first thing he is drawn to is his biceps. In the scene in American Psycho where Bateman is having a threesome with two prostitutes, why does he flex his bicep in the mirror as an act of vainglorious self-affirmation? Why did he not flex his tricep or his lats or something else? How come any time I'm on a night out and somebody notices that I've gotten bigger, people will tend to say something like 'give us a bicep flex there!', as opposed to, 'show us your quads!' or something.

For a lot of gym goers, bicep development is the number 1 priority. The fact that most of them go about it the wrong way, ie. doing millions and millions of curls every day, is a moot point. What I'm asking is, WHY?

What is it about having big biceps, and being able to do a bicep pose that impresses the average person (not talking about bodybuilding or strength training enthusiasts, just talking about lay people).

This is KIND OF following on from what I was saying in Blue's thread about planet earth, etc. We as humans imply meaning to everything. There is nothing inherently impressive about having big biceps, insofar as if an alien came and visited earth for the first time, he would not be any more impressed by someone with big biceps than someone with small biceps. So over time the human race has come to imply positive connotations to having big biceps (as opposed to having a big stomach, which will generally attract negative connotations). But can anyone tell me...why biceps in particular? Why are they the muscle singled out as the most important for most people? WHY??

First thing I noticed when watching Arnie films as a kid was his chest!

But I get your point.
I suppose arms are the most visible part of the body - in t shirts etc.
And, the most easy to flex - can you flex your traps?

I guess biceps/guns are very masculine, and in a subliminal way having big guns is probably just another way of trying to be a 'better specimen' than the average person? Were told its all about arms so we focus on that?

^I know that having a good set of guns is considered masculine, and I know that having them probably impresses people because it shows dedication and hard work. It's hard to get them, so that's why it's desirable. So if we lived in a world where your biceps got bigger and bigger by eating ice cream and sitting on the couch all day, then small biceps would probably be considered impressive by everyone.

But the thing is, development of all muscles shows dedication and hard work, so why are biceps singled out?

Not sure on the history of it, but its an easy muscle to flex and show off, so I guess that is the main reason why.

I saw a tshirt the other day that said these arnt sleeves there holsters

I find it ridiculous, personally I aim for a big frame if that makes sense - big shoulders/chest and legs. Couldn't really give a damn about biceps, though it's a bit embarrassing when people expect you to have big biceps because of your build and then you have to flex some tiny guns. 

annoys the hell out of me as it's always the first thing people ask me to do aswell, I only do 6 sets-ish on my Biceps once a week and they are a resonablesize.

but there is one guy in my gym who I'm sure trains them everytime I see him there,his arms are huge (and his shoulders) but thats about it, just looks weird

AWG


annoys the hell out of me as it's always the first thing people ask me to do aswell, I only do 6 sets-ish on my Biceps once a week and they are a resonablesize.

but there is one guy in my gym who I'm sure trains them everytime I see him there,his arms are huge (and his shoulders) but thats about it, just looks weird

Your not maximising your gains imo mate, arms are best to failure imo/e

sillynarbie


I find it ridiculous, personally I aim for a big frame if that makes sense - big shoulders/chest and legs. Couldn't really give a damn about biceps, though it's a bit embarrassing when people expect you to have big biceps because of your build and then you have to flex some tiny guns. 

i dont understand people on this site claiming to be the opposite from the norm as if it makes them superior

end of the day if you train for big shoulders, chest and legs youre talking through your arse if you say you dont care about having a good set of arms to go with it (unless of course you train for powerlifting/strongman or something other than bodybuilding)

in response to the op i agree with the other posters in that biceps are pretty easy to see in a tshirt. i wouldnt say its all about the bicep though - moreso the general upper arm. it just so happens that the best way to showcase it is a bicep pose, but people will be impressed a lot more by a bicep boosted by a big tricep for great upper arm thickness, than they would be just a bicep alone with a good peak and a flat arm underneath.

that said while there is a huge emphasis on the bicep, i think people notice also your chest/back/shoulder thickness and width - so its more an overall upper body thing. legs are neglected generally until someone sees you naked/in your pants. its only then theyll realise you look silly if you dont train legs :D

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I saw a tshirt the other day that said these arnt sleeves there holsters

How could you possibly see the writing under Racks Cardigan?

Well I doubt you walk about naked so your hardly going to get asked to flex your glutes, its obvious why its biceps cause its the only body part on display if your wearing a t-shirt, if you lived in a hot country ans walked around bare chested then maybe people would ask you to flex your pecs!

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I saw a tshirt the other day that said these arnt sleeves there holsters

LOL *add to cart*  

ive always noticed the shoulders/traps first....

I'm impressed with good tri's tbh..

Varg


First thing I noticed when watching Arnie films as a kid was his chest!

But I get your point.
I suppose arms are the most visible part of the body - in t shirts etc.
And, the most easy to flex - can you flex your traps?

i can.

People just train biceps a lot because they think it will make their arms bigger overall

The bicep flex is the common pub pose because it's easy to perform and you don't have to take clothes off to see it

Nothing more to it than that IMO. I certainly don't think your average geezer is particularly impressed by a good bicep peak. More by big forearms if anything

Its a muscle group I enjoy training cos its one I get a decent pump from. It also doesn't make me feel breathless and at the risk of heart failure like when doing my legs!

fanatic


Well I doubt you walk about naked so your hardly going to get asked to flex your glutes, its obvious why its biceps cause its the only body part on display if your wearing a t-shirt, if you lived in a hot country ans walked around bare chested then maybe people would ask you to flex your pecs!

Depends if you drink in the wrong sort of bars hahaha

Blue_Lagoon3000

AWG


annoys the hell out of me as it's always the first thing people ask me to do aswell, I only do 6 sets-ish on my Biceps once a week and they are a resonablesize.

but there is one guy in my gym who I'm sure trains them everytime I see him there,his arms are huge (and his shoulders) but thats about it, just looks weird

Your not maximising your gains imo mate, arms are best to failure imo/e

they're in proportion to the rest of my physique (16.25'') so I'm happy enough with how it's going so far

if they stop progressing then I'll change the way I train them

^ Not saying your doing anything wrong bud, but 6 sets doesn't touch the sides fort me on any muscle tbh. Were all different though