I really hope that it was the incompetent guy, not that you'ree body is atter than you thought. I'm thimking of getting a scale, but after reading the posts here, I am reminded that weight is not a good measure of fitness.

I think I'll go for a tapemeasure instead.

It occured to me today that the use of my bike to go sailing was covering me both in the upper and lower body. Although it is hard to measure the actual exertion of sailing, because it depends on the weather so much.

And both fit in well with the idea of earth-freindly transport, whoch is my main purpose anyway.

I am now wondering, after spending WAY to much time on my butt surfing for cool biking deals, whether getting better equipment actually is counterproductive for weght loss. I know that totally lousy equiopment will be frustrating to use, and will keep me from riding. But maybe getting a nicer bike actually will burn less calories.

I would like some input on this. How much does the quality of bike affect the "feel" of biking, versus increased speed and efficiency?

I know when I had a department store bike, I never rode it, felt guilty for being out of shape, and never rode it. And this was during my twenties! But when a coworker talked me into trying out his wife's bike for a weekend, I rode about 20 miles, not realizing how far I was going (on a paved path with few cross streets). The bike felt alive somehow and responsive, versus just a dead peice of steel.

I was at first a little miffed at the suggestion I join Sparks, didn't want to follow a plan. But decided that I didn't have the right to be miffed until I checked it out. I joined up, and it looks wonderful. You get to choose your own goals, and its done in babysteps. Thanks for the advice.

Mary