Core · Bodyweight
Seated Lean Back Cycling on a Chair
How to do the seated lean back cycling on a chair, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Reps
- Movement
- Flexion
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Sit on the edge of a chair and lean your torso back to a slight angle, holding the sides for support. Lift both feet off the floor and pedal your legs in a continuous cycling motion, keeping your core braced to hold the leaned-back position.
- 1Feel your lower abs hold your torso in the leaned-back position
- 2Feel your hip flexors drive the continuous pedaling
- 3Keep a smooth, steady cycling rhythm
Common mistakes
- Don't let your lower back collapse or round as you lean back
- Avoid rushing the pedal so it turns into swinging
- Don't rest your feet on the floor between reps
Muscles worked
The seated lean back cycling on a chair mainly works the lower abs and hip flexors, with the upper abs, obliques, and quads assisting.
- Lower AbsPrimary
- Hip FlexorsPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- ObliquesSupport
- QuadsSupport
Kovo programs the seated lean back cycling on a chair for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More abs & core exercises
- How to do the ab wheel rollout
- How to do the ankle tap plank
- How to do the ankle taps
- How to do the resistance band dead bugs
- How to do the resistance band pallof press
- How to do the rollout
Last reviewed June 2026.