dieting question

[RoadRaven]

OK... you sound like an extremely fit person, and weight is not necessarily a bad thing if you are strong... in fact, losing too much weight may mean you sacrifice valuable muscle. If you must lose muscle mass, then do as you suggest, simply stop weight training muscles you don't need, or move to low-weighted repitions which tones muscle, rather than heavy resistance which builds muscle

Duckie, when I read your post my first thought was "I wonder if she has heard of/understands 'power to weight ratio'...."

So I post some links to articles for you...

http://www.active.com/story.cfm?stor...tury_challenge
Power to weight ratio has two components: first, the ability to ride for long periods of time at a Maximum Sustainable (MS) power. Typically a top climber can ride at 10% or more above threshold power (or threshold heart rate) for 30-60 minutes.
Second, top climbers have a low enough body weight so that the MS power translates into an advantage going uphill. Having a high maximum sustainable power output will make an excellent time-trialist on flat roads where the main obstacle is wind drag.
To carry over this advantage to climbing, you need a low enough body weight in relation to your MS power. This is especially true on long and steep climbs.

http://www.cptips.com/climb.htm

http://www.sportsci.org/encyc/cyclin...ingupdown.html





This link also has an "aerodynamics calculator" which may be of interest...

http://www.exploratorium.edu/cycling/aerodynamics1.html