When I do Evil Wheels (aka Ab Rollouts), I prefer to use a PVC pipe through the middle of a large bumper plate instead of loading plates on a barbell.

Only having one point of contact with the floor creates more instability, making me recruit more muscles. I’ve always worried the PVC will snap though. Today I ran in to a new problem while trying a hip abducted version of the movement, which is a game changer by the way! I lost my balance and the plate started to fall over before I was able to catch myself and avoid a face plant. The large bumper plate isn’t great on an uneven garage floor.

I had some wheels from an old vacuum cleaner and thought about creating my own ab wheel. Then I remembered this old thing was sitting on the shelf in my garage gym.

I don’t like it because the base of support is too wide and it has internal springs that “wind up” as you roll out and help you back in. Think of those toy cars you pull back and then they take off when you let go. This is basically a cheater ab wheel.

Could I modify it? I took it completely apart.

I put it back together without the springs or guard and I was in business!