i'll keep you posted.. hopefull with all good reports! i'll be devastated if i don't finish one! i WANT that jersey!

i'll go with the nuts comment! still don't think i'm a studette! i do have an EVIL trainer though! he had me out climbing a little way up out local hill the in the first couple of days of having my bike! and all the way to the "top" within a week! he's EVIL! so he's been pushing the hills from day one! 2 of the hill climbs i didn't plan to do last year.. i only did them cuz hubby hurt his knee early in the season... but we had already registered and paid for him.. i wasn't loosing out on the money.. figured i'd go as far as i could (which on the first and hardest one was to the top! where i promptly cried like a gurl cuz i made it! ) so then i gained my confidence and knew i'd be able to do the next one! and of course, now that i know i can do them (or was capable last year...) i'm signed up on my own this year! woo hoo! only problem... i've gained a few pounds i need to get back to being anal about eating and loose about 5 pounds (or 8 if i'm REALLY being anal.. but i'd be happy with 5)

as for working your legs..... do you have a trainer? can you ride that? that's armless!

stairs or "step ups" are good! squats.. lunges... walking lunges.... granted you can't hold weights without arms.. but do enough of them and you'll feel them!

i guess technically nothing you do off the bike translates to the bike.. however i worked out with weights before i took up cycling.. and refuse to give it up! and no one can convince me that in some way or other it didn't help even a bit on the bike doing all those squats, lunges, step ups, etc!!!!!!

and of course.. if you are already doing hilly hikes! that's GREAT for the legs!