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?

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?

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.

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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!

Lovebirds - I have been informed by several sources now that the bicycle is the most effective abdominal move one can do. It certainly feels like it. Try it. You'll hate it!

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."

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.

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.)

Those actually look like the yoga exercises. My P90x yoga dvd has both of those moves in it.