[QUOTE=Jude;652204]I've decided to finally do something about my weight and complete lack of fitness. My town has lots of fairly flat hiking and biking trails, so, although I haven't been on a bike since I was a teenager - I'm 39 now - I'm thinking that it might be a good low-impact form of exercise for me.

GO FOR IT!! I was 39 and unemployed. I decided one day to dust off my old MTB from college and go for a ride instead of spending the entire day searching for jobs in front of the computer. I rode 2.6 miles....thought I was going to die at mile .5. I was so sore I didn't get back in the bike for a week or two. But then I tried again. I eventually bought a new MTB, then the best purchase I made was a new "performance hybrid"...I bought a Specialized Vita Elite and I LOVE that bike. I have ridden it for two years. YOU CAN DO THIS. I rode my first "race" this spring 34 mile leg of the Carti Tour de Rock here in Little Rock. I love it so much I rode the 25 mile leg of the famous Hotter'n Hell Hundred in Wichita Falls TX. All those races on the "hybrid". Just start small and you can do it. I haven't lost any weight still a hefty 230 lbs....but I am much healthier as far as my BP and blood work goes. GO FOR IT!! You can do it ..... I did.