Thanks for your general and specific comments. I really appreciate that. I actually feel like my LBS has been good in the selection stage and fitting when the bike arrived stage. I am actually much more pleased than I might have thought.

My core strength is not bad and I have done planks happily in the past. And the push ups. I like exercises on the ball and I don't have a small medicine ball but have considered it in the past. It sounds like something I can easily work on. Someone pointed out that you can do core exercises in front of the TV, though I am not a huge TV watcher. Still, I do find myself there, sometimes.

Thanks a bunch!