|
|
02-02-2010, 12:11 AM
|
#1
|
Mrs. Brady
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Pacific NW, USA
Posts: 601
S/C/G: 283/259/180
Height: 5'6"
|
Anybody remember "the bicycle"?
I've read the "useless exercises" sticky, but I'd like for us to fish in our memories. I haven't seen it since the late 1960's, but "the bicycle" used to be a common exercise. You propped yourself up on your neck and shoulders, supported your hips with your hands, and spun your feet like you were riding an upside-down bicycle.
Besides killing your cervical vertebrae, what was this supposed to accomplish?
While we're on the subject, what about jumping jacks? They exercise what muscles, exactly? Are they cardio? Then why did the PE teacher always have us do exactly 10?
Then there's the vibrating belt across our butts...
What other exercises did we used to do, back in the day, that we now realize are laughably ineffective?
|
|
|
02-02-2010, 08:47 AM
|
#2
|
Results Are Typical
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Austin, Tx
Posts: 240
S/C/G: 232/217/180
Height: 5' 1.5"
|
Aaaahahahaha I remember that one. I think the point was to look impressive rather than offering any real benefits.
Hey how about the pulley contraption you attached to your door frame and then strapped yourself in like some kind of deranged marionette?
|
|
|
02-02-2010, 10:12 AM
|
#3
|
Just Me
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Maryland
Posts: 14,707
S/C/G: 364/--/182
Height: 5'6"
|
Actually, the bicycle is a really good ab exercise. I do a form of it. Basically extend one leg, bring one knee in and then reach your opposite elbow to the knee, then switch.
|
|
|
02-02-2010, 10:20 AM
|
#4
|
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 84
S/C/G: 243/237/170
Height: 5'2
|
I can remember doing arm circles. We stuck our arms straight out to our sides and made little circles - then big circles.
What was that all about?
|
|
|
02-02-2010, 10:23 AM
|
#5
|
Just Me
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Maryland
Posts: 14,707
S/C/G: 364/--/182
Height: 5'6"
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amy9
I can remember doing arm circles. We stuck our arms straight out to our sides and made little circles - then big circles.
What was that all about?
|
It is a shoulder exercise. I do P90x and there are arm circles in the warm up section of some of the workouts.
|
|
|
02-02-2010, 11:01 AM
|
#6
|
poco a poco
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 495
S/C/G: 246/166.5/158
Height: 5'5"
|
There's an exercise similar to the bicycle in Pilates--it doesn't involve standing on your neck however, OWWWW. It does a pretty good job working your abs by holding your legs off the ground. Jumping jacks are cardio-for sure. We do them in boot camp and we do waaaaay more than 10.
And everything old is new again.....I saw an infomercial for some kind of vibrating machine the other night. I had forgotten about those!!
|
|
|
02-02-2010, 12:06 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 319
S/C/G: 203/193/155
Height: 5'2"
|
nelie, the bicycle is GREAT! The "new" version has you laying on your back, legs extending - I do mine with a wall involved, so that as I lift and twist my upper body, and extend the opposing leg, I can only touch the wall if I get that leg all the way out properly and MAN does set #2 SUCK! Love it. Love it love it love it.
|
|
|
02-02-2010, 09:26 PM
|
#8
|
Mrs. Brady
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Pacific NW, USA
Posts: 601
S/C/G: 283/259/180
Height: 5'6"
|
I wasn't referring to the "new" bicycle. I meant the old one, where you stand on your neck and shoulders. It went out with straight-leg sit-ups, I think. From the sound of the "new" one, I might like to try it.
Last edited by LovebirdsFlying; 02-02-2010 at 09:26 PM.
|
|
|
02-03-2010, 11:01 AM
|
#9
|
Kim - IP 9/10
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,681
Height: 5'4"
|
IKWYM about the old bicycle - it doesn't really engage your core much (the pilates version - oh, yes)
Oh, and straight let "sit ups" are now also back - called the roll up in Pilates.
It all comes back "in", one way or another!
|
|
|
02-03-2010, 10:57 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 319
S/C/G: 203/193/155
Height: 5'2"
|
|
|
|
02-04-2010, 04:11 PM
|
#11
|
Mrs. Brady
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Pacific NW, USA
Posts: 601
S/C/G: 283/259/180
Height: 5'6"
|
I'm sure I will hate it. I will definitely try it. But I want to make sure we're clear on the fact that we're not referring to the same exercise. There are two that I know of, that have been called "the bicycle."
|
|
|
02-04-2010, 06:11 PM
|
#12
|
SGeranium
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Seattle
Posts: 384
Height: 5"8
|
the old bicycle has to be heck on your c vertebrae. We do something similar in yoga occasionally. Not for everyone.
|
|
|
02-04-2010, 06:17 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: California
Posts: 7,097
S/C/G: 197/135/?
Height: 5'7"
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by SGeranium
the old bicycle has to be heck on your c vertebrae. We do something similar in yoga occasionally. Not for everyone.
|
I think, though, that shoulderstand is different for a couple reasons. (At least, I'm assuming that's what you're referring to). I'm sure this is well-known to you, but for others who don't know:
One, you're not doing bicycles with your legs. So you don't have your weight shifting around on your neck.
Second, in yoga you pay great attention to form, and to not doing more than you're ready for yet. Some schools of yoga use props (a blanket under your shoulders) to relieve pressure on your neck). They are, in fact, *shoulder*stands, not neck stands. -- I imagine shoulderstand bicycles are just thrown into exercise routines without that kind of care and attention.
Last edited by JulieJ08; 02-04-2010 at 06:18 PM.
|
|
|
02-04-2010, 06:22 PM
|
#14
|
Mrs. Brady
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Pacific NW, USA
Posts: 601
S/C/G: 283/259/180
Height: 5'6"
|
Finally found an illustration! The drawn figure on the left appears to be doing the bicycle exercise I was referring to. OUCH!!!! (I don't know what the heck the figure on the right is doing.)
Last edited by LovebirdsFlying; 02-04-2010 at 06:23 PM.
|
|
|
02-04-2010, 06:28 PM
|
#15
|
Just Me
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Maryland
Posts: 14,707
S/C/G: 364/--/182
Height: 5'6"
|
Those actually look like the yoga exercises. My P90x yoga dvd has both of those moves in it.
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:25 PM.
|