Bicycle crunches

spyrosmom

spyrosmom

Cathlete
Why Why Why do these so suck so so so badly? And Why Why Why does Cathe put them in every flippin' DVD???!?!?!? I hate them I hate them I hate them. I do not like them, Nan I am.

They never get any easier, and are downright uncomfortable. I can only do 3 or 4 a side and then kaput, I am done. I feel like I don't have enough range of motion in my upper body, or that my upper back is tight. When I try to bring my legs down low enough to really feel it in my abs, my low back comes off the ground, so that's shot all to heck and back with my form there. I just can't get these. Been trying for years. Just can't get them comfy and to feel right.

Is there a good sub for these? I normally will just sub the upper body movement and leave my feet flat on the floor and my knees bent, but then I feel like I'm missing half of the exercise. I know there is a similar standing ab move, and I can do that just fine, but I don't really feel it in my abs. Seems when I lay (lie?) down it all goes down the tubes. It seems to be one of the simpler, old school ab exercises, but I can't do it!!!!


ARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!

Nan
 
If I don't feel like doing bicycles, I substitute those pilates single-leg stretch thingies. It's a good way of working the lower abs while protecting the back. Plus, you can work with your legs higher at first, getting lower as you get stronger, so eventually you should be able to do bicycles all day.

I actually really LIKE bicycles! I just wish I never had to do another plank. But I like what they do for my abs, so I guess I'll stick with'em.
 
I admit I also am not a big fan of the dreaded bicycle move - not sure why. I don't have the discomfort you speak of, just don't like 'em!! :rolleyes:
Cathe must put them in EVERY ab/core wo for a reason so I grin & bare it. ;)
 
I don't like them either. I almost never do them anymore. YUCK!
If I do some of them, I'll do them slower. I just never really understood this move. This moves seem more effective at a slower pace, so I never understood the reason to go so fast.

I don't feel or look like my legs are moving like a bicycle when doing this move. I feel like a frailing bug on it's back trying to turn over to crawl away.

Oh, I would rather do planks all over bicycles all day.:p
 
I hate these too!!! I find that especially after an intense cardio workout, my hip flexors are so tight that I can barely finish a set of bicycles. I try to squeeze out as many as I can and then I'll do my own sub-in: one knee bent on the floor, the other ankle crossed over it, then you bring your upper and lower body together in a crunch and touch the same elbow to knee (so, right elbow, right knee). Repeat on the other side. Not sure if that's an appropriate sub but I figure it works obliques and the lower abs too.

Also, I find that if I save abs for nighttime, like right before dinner, the bike moves are way easier since my body is nice and relaxed.
 
I found it really helpful to get some real Pilates training to learn how to do bicycle crunches correctly. It's probably not necessary to take a class - the beginner Mari Winsor Pilates DVDs give excellent form pointers. Once I learned how to engage all my core muscles properly and stay within "the frame" of my body, bicycle crunches got easier and now I actually like them. My core is much stronger and more flexible too.

Stebby
 
Why not try this modification?

Lying on your back with your knees bent, lift your R foot off the floor and hold it stable, lift your L foot floor so now both feet are lifted off the floor, hold it for a moment, set your L foot back on the floor then your R foot. This should help strengthen your lower abs.
 
I totally agree! Due to the stupid arthritis in my right hip this move is nearly impossible for me. My modification for those is keeping one leg on the floor and just raising the opposite leg while crunching toward the raised leg and then switching legs. It's the keeping both legs in the air that is practically impossible and also hurts my lower back. I dunno why darling Cathe puts them in every dangum workout.
 
I remember reading an article that analyzed various ab moves and the bicycle move is one of the best, most effective of all ab moves. So, although, I too, suck at bike - I just keep trying. For me, it is my hip flexor on my right leg. It is pretty weak. I am doing exercises to try to strengthen it. But in the meantime I just don't lower my leg as low as Cathe does - my legs stay up higher off the ground. I hope you figure out something that works for you. It sounds like we are not alone and people have given some good alternative moves.
 
I don't do them either. They put way too much pressure on my lower back. I typically just do a regular side crunch--in the crunch position (lying on the floor knees bent), I do a crunch aiming the elbow to the opposite knee. Not as effective as bicycles b/c I'm not hitting lower abs, but I figure I'm doing enough other lower ab exercises to make up for it.
 
If I try to do these with my legs too close to the ground, there is a not-so-pleasant cracking going on in my hips (it's not age related: I've always had it). I have to do these with my legs more at a 45-degree angle, or with bent legs (never straightening) or sub another exercise.
 
LauraMax said:
I don't do them either. They put way too much pressure on my lower back. I typically just do a regular side crunch--in the crunch position (lying on the floor knees bent), I do a crunch aiming the elbow to the opposite knee. Not as effective as bicycles b/c I'm not hitting lower abs, but I figure I'm doing enough other lower ab exercises to make up for it.
Click to expand...

I'm with Laura. I hate them, they hurt my back, so I sub with a whole load of other moves. Yes, the bicycle manouevre is the best for ab development, that's why Cathe includes them in all her DVDs. But, they aren't comfortable for everyone so find your sub or modification and you're off. Some ab exercises are better than no ab exercises!

Clare
 
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