Hi,

I am sooo excited. I just purchased a used bicycle primarily for excercise. I took it for a spin today and got quite the workout. My leg muscles seem very weak and going up-hill was very challenging. I am excited because I feel that perhaps this is an excercise that I can do for weight loss that will keep my interest. My question is this...does anyone ride their bike as part of their weight loss regimen and if so, do they feel that it is a good fat burner? Also...how can I measure the amount of miles that I have biked? Thanks.

Well, there's always MapMyRide.com

I know some friends who enjoy it and I know for several areas there are premeasured routes and things for when you feel more adventurous.

I'm currently not really a rider, but I'll be commuting via bike in the fall after my summer internship.

I bought a gps unit but you can go to the bike store and get a cycling computer.. they start at 50.00 I believe and go up.. it measures the distance you have gone and you can download it to your computer.. cat-eye is one brand. Some might estimate your calories burned as well.

The parks usually have an estimated distance on the map. Some have mile markers.

My gps estimated I burnt 400 calories today and I only biked a half an hour.. I'll take it.

I am not a bike rider, but my husband is. He rides his bike to work most days (20.2 miles one way) and he, too, really appreciates being outdoors and the workout it gives him.

He has a computer to give him the info he needs - how far he is going and his mph. I don't remember paying $50 - I didn't think it was that much - but we could have .

What he has really learned is that riding his bike can give him a good cardio workout OR a good weight resistance workout - depending on what he needs at that time.

Good luck and HAVE FUN!

Thank you all so much!!!