How to Do Bicycle Crunches

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Co-authored by Dean Theriot and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: November 22, 2024 Fact Checked

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Starting Position

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Technique

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Variations

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Video

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Expert Q&A

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Warnings

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Things You'll Need

Crunches are a vital part of any muscle-building workout and bicycle crunches are one of the most challenging types. Although they look simple, bicycle crunches work your lower, middle, and upper abs while strengthening your quads and hamstrings. Fortunately, you can modify the crunch to your strength-level and build up to your personal fitness goal.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Starting Position

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1
Lie flat on the floor and lace your hands behind your head.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Dean Theriot
Personal Trainer

Expert Interview. 22 January 2021.} Spread your elbows wide as you bring your hands behind your head. Lightly touch the back of your head with your fingers and palms.^{[2]
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- Try to relax as you look straight up at the ceiling so you're not holding tension in your shoulders.^{[3]
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- If it's more comfortable, you can lie on a lightly cushioned surface. For example, lie down on a yoga mat or carpeted floor.
- If you keep your elbows tucked in, your crunches won't engage your oblique muscles as well.
- Avoid interlacing your fingers because you'll be more likely to pull on your neck. This can cause muscle strain or fatigue.
2
Bend your knees up at a 90-degree angle. Keep your feet planted on the floor as you bring your knees up so they form the peak of a triangle. Your feet should be flat and about shoulder-width apart on the floor.^{[4]
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- Your knees shouldn't be knocking together once they're at a 90-degree angle. Instead, keep space between them.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Technique

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Once your knees are bent, lift your feet up so your legs are extended and slightly bent at the knee. Avoid straightening your legs so much that your hamstrings feel tight.^{[5]
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2
Bring your right knee to your chest and touch your left elbow to it.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Dean Theriot
Personal Trainer

Expert Interview. 22 January 2021.} Twist your torso as you draw in your knee. At the same time, rotate your left elbow to touch your right knee.^{[7]
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- Your shoulder blades should be raised off the floor so your abs are getting stretched instead of your arms.
3
Alternate the crunch by touching the other knee with the opposite elbow.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Dean Theriot
Personal Trainer

Expert Interview. 22 January 2021.} Release the crunch and bring your other knee in towards your chest as you touch the opposite elbow to it. Extend the leg that's not tucked in so it's pushed away from your body as though you're pedaling a bike.^{[9]
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- Once you get the hang of it, you can smoothly rotate your torso as your elbows touch alternating knees.
4
Aim for 15 to 20 crunches per set. If you're just starting out with bicycle crunches try to do 1 to 2 sets. Then, work your way up to at least 3 or 4 sets of 15 to 20 crunches for a more challenging workout that builds your abs.^{[10]
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- It's okay to adjust the number of crunches you perform for each set. For example, you might prefer to start with 10 crunches per set.
Tip: Instead of counting crunches, you could also time yourself for sets. For example, 1 set might last between 20 and 60 seconds.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Variations

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1
Stand instead of lie down for an easier way to do the bicycle crunch. If you feel uncomfortable when you lie on the ground and twist, stay in a standing position. Then, twist your waist and bring the elbow of your arm to the knee of your opposite leg. Lift that leg while you twist to mimic the movements of the bicycle crunch.^{[11]
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- Repeat this crunch in the opposite direction.
2
Keep your knees bent instead of peddling them for a simpler crunch. If the traditional bicycle crunch is too hard on your torso, try leaving your feet on the ground so your knees form a 90-degree angle. Then, follow the rotation portion of the crunch so you bring your elbow to the opposite knee.^{[12]
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- Remember to keep your fingers loose instead of locking them so you don't pull on your neck.
- Reader Poll: We asked 114 wikiHow readers which type of crunches they found most effective for building ab muscles, and 59% of them said elbow-to-knee crunches. [Take Poll]
Tip: You can also try simply raising your leg and setting it back down as you rotate the opposite elbow.
3
Lie on a bench to do bicycle crunches for a more challenging workout. To do an elevated bicycle crunch, lie with your back on an exercise bench so your legs are hanging over both sides. Then, pull a knee up towards your chest as you bring your opposite elbow towards the knee. Remember to leave one of your legs touching the floor as you do the crunch.^{[13]
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- The elevated bicycle crunch is more of a workout for your core muscles since you're doing a deeper stretch.
4
Do the bicycle crunch on a half-dome balance ball for an intense stretch. Place the flat side of the half-dome ball on the floor and sit on it. Then, lean back so your lower back is supported by the domed part of the ball. Plant your feet on the floor before you perform the bicycle crunch.^{[14]
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- This will probably feel like a difficult workout because you'll be using your muscles to balance while performing the crunch.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How should I position my neck?

Dean Theriot
Personal Trainer
Dean Theriot is a Personal Trainer and the Owner of Timberline Fitness in Houston, Texas. With over 25 years of experience in the fitness industry, Dean specializes in personal, group, and sport-specific training. Dean holds a BS in Exercise Physiology from LSU. Dean combines resistance and cardiovascular training with pilates exercises for comprehensive workouts for his clients. His sport-specific training includes football, basketball, and baseball.

Dean Theriot

Personal Trainer

Expert Answer

You don't want to crank your neck in too much. Instead, look up a little bit more versus looking straight across. That’ll keep your neck in a better position.

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Question

How do I make sure I'm engaging my abs?

Dean Theriot
Personal Trainer
Dean Theriot is a Personal Trainer and the Owner of Timberline Fitness in Houston, Texas. With over 25 years of experience in the fitness industry, Dean specializes in personal, group, and sport-specific training. Dean holds a BS in Exercise Physiology from LSU. Dean combines resistance and cardiovascular training with pilates exercises for comprehensive workouts for his clients. His sport-specific training includes football, basketball, and baseball.

Dean Theriot

Personal Trainer

Expert Answer

You want to make sure that you've got your abs flexed the whole time. If you're doing that properly, you're going to have your lower back pressed into the floor or mat and there won't be any space between your lower back and the floor. That's the key hip position that engages your abs rather than just using your hip flexors.

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Question

How do you do the air bike?

Michele Dolan
Certified Fitness Trainer
Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.

Michele Dolan

Certified Fitness Trainer

Expert Answer

Lie on your back, lift your legs up above your hips and move your legs in a pedaling motion like you are riding a bicycle.

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Warnings

If you have back or neck pain, stop and ask your doctor about whether you should be doing bicycle crunches.

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Avoid doing bicycle crunches if you're more than 12 weeks pregnant.

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