Welcome to the forum, bikerz

Good on you for getting out there and getting yourself fitter

Your friends are right, cyclists come in all shapes and sizes - the important thing is what you are feeling now... increased fitness makes you feel so much better, physically, yes, but also psychologically and spiritually...

35 pounds in 4 months... thats quite dramatic - I assume you have rearranged your diet also? There are some great nutrition ideas on the forum too.

And 40 miles after 4 months... quite impressive... have you had previous bike experience, because thats a decent little bit of endurance riding for a beginnner...

To lose so much you must be really working on lifting your heart rate?

Are you on a road bike, a hybrid or an off-roader?

Keep posting and let us now how you go