JC>  1) Build lean muscles mass - muscle mass uses up more calories even
 JC>     at rest than does blubber.  Helps aid loss of excess body fat.
I have had a lot of people say this, so I suppose that there's a merit to the 
whole idea. My main goal is to be in shape for racing in six-seven months - a 
tall order, but I know I can do it. The other is to be able to do camping off 
the bike next summer: from a physical standpoint, I'm getting quite close to 
that already. Its the racing shape I need to work on - and hence I don't mind 
some work on the legs for that explosive acceleration and hill climbing 
power. I'm a big lad, and we big lads need to work on hill climbing 
yhow....
 JC>  3) Gives you something to fill all that loose skin that you'll have
 JC>     following loss of excess body fat.  Unless, perhaps you enjoy
Well, there is a little of the loose stuff, I gotta admit. I figure it'll do 
what it's supposed to do in time. :)
 JC>     looking like a bag of bones in loose fitting turkey skin.
Gobble?
 JC>  4) Strong muscle helps support and protect joints, spine, etc., 
This much I've already had some success in. In May of '96, I blew out my knee 
- anything squooshy was basically wrecked. Took six or more months for it to 
get to where I didn't limp. I've noticed it once in the last six, and that 
was fourtwo days ago when I turned on it wierd at work. Freak accident, and 
its better now, after a little rest. All from building up the knee from 
cycling.
 JC> In addition to a little weight lifting, you may want to 
 JC> take up indoor swimming during the winter season.
I _REALLY_ don't swim well. Although, for what its worth, I went to the gyn 
tonight, and did a three-set rotation of three exercises each for lower and 
upper body. Didn't kill myself or anything, but did put some pressure on the 
old system.
BTW: I also weighed myself, and found that despite the fact I've only been 
able to get out for one long ride (80km/50mi) in the last two weeks, (plus 
40k today) I've still lost 5 Lbs in that time, so I suppose I haven't been 
doing too poorly. However, I think that loss comes from adjustment in diet to 
an extent - just eating better. Still I'm 193 now, still carrying flab, and 
what interests me is that in the loss of weight, I've put on some good leg 
muscle. I wonder how much mass of muscle I've gained? Oh well, guess it 
doesn't matter...
Still, I think I'm going to try and incorporate strength work of _some_ 
nature at least twice a week for the next while, and see what happens. After 
all, I survived tonight, eh? :)
Question, though: what kind of stuff can be done indoors, in one's own home, 
without having to go get a weight set?
--- Maximus/2 3.01
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