Originally Posted by xlDooM

How much more efficient do you think that road bike is? I bet you that guy wouldn't slow down by more than 2mph if he swapped bikes with you, unless you were battling a 20mph+ headwind as well as the incline.

Cycling 12 miles a day is very healthy. This kind of exercise reduces many health risks by a ton. But unless you push yourself on every ride, it doesn't make you that much stronger. It's like going to the gym five days a week but never increasing the weight; you'll hit a plateau very quickly and stop getting stronger. That guy who flew past you may be a fat bastard but he has more muscle for sure.