Hoping to get a bit of a discussion to help me make a decision here,

basically I do these 40 minute exercises a few days a week that are more focused on strength and muscle, they don't lose weight and I'm glad for that as I'm currently trying to gain weight - which for a year has been difficult. I started doing these last November as I do sit around a lot and, skinny or not, we all need exercise and to use the muscles we have, that much I'm aware of.

I got back into cycling a few weeks ago, and I love it. I just feel guilty in the sense I'm burning off any small gains in weight that I might have been making. I want to incorporate it more into my life, especially over the summer - more so for the joy of commuting, not using the car and spending on petrol than trying to lose weight as many of you may be. And for the benefits it makes to your mental health and dealing with stress. I'm starting university in September too, so I'd like to have my cycling and exercise all worked out and truly tried out by then.

The problem I find is that, these exercises I do tired me out, sometimes they'll leave me with that healthy muscle pain - you know, when you haven't used the muscle in a while and it burns / hurtle a little after using it for the first time in ages? That. Which I don't mind, but it puts me off cycling with the pain and the fact I've used a lot of energy doing them. They make me not want to cycle as such.

When I cycle instead of doing these, I find I often don't bother doing the strength exercises and I think, well, maybe that's a bad thing? Not doing the muscle exercises. I never aim to be a gym buff or a very muscley guy in life, so I don't mind not doing them but I don't want to waste / not use muscles. So I guess one of my main questions I'd like you guys to give your opinion on is this: Can I just focus on cycling, and hope that cycling will through time keep my muscles in good shape as I'm using them / flexing them on each ride and forget those other exercises?

You'll probably say, split some days to cycle and do them but I do enjoy a few days a week doing nothing - which I'm sure I can get away with until I meet my weight target. But then.. even the best of cyclists and athletes take rest days so again, just a few days of any exercise a week I think is enough to keep me in good health as much as I can control

I'd rather cycle than do muscle exercises, as you probably guessed. But I don't want to be missing out completely on the benefits of the muscle exercises. Some people say cycling and cardio actually seems to 'melt away' your muscles over time.. but surely that's not true? Constant turning of the neck to check for traffic, forcing your legs down on the pedals, isn't this enduring your muscles?!

I'm 20, 54kgs (need to be 60kgs) and currently unemployed until university begins for a bit of background.