I remember flipping a track bike and ramming the olecranon of my elbow up through the humerus. (The orthopedist did a great job, but compared it to sewing Rice Krispies together with wire.) First day in the hospital, a research article popped up to remind me that cyclists have lower bone density than marathon runners.

Don't know whether we race bikes because we have lower bone density or have lower bone density because we race bikes (probably the latter), but I recommend all older (and some younger) cyclists get their bone density measured.

If you want to check the whole body lean mass while you're at it, should be able to work out a deal. None of the companies give the software away and the insurance companies won't pay for it, so usually end up at a research or commercial place. (Remember, the scientists will bargain; the commercial fitness/spa folks will try to make up the $100,000 they blew on the scanner and software..)

I work at a .place that offers them. on our calibrated research machines. I think the fee is ~$100, but I only use the data to keep athletes honest about how much fat they carry ("...but doctor, I'm big boned...") and to prompt a little more effort.

A few times, an unexpectedly high percentage of body fat uncovered a drinking problem, but in general, when it comes to program design, the LBM is not nearly as useful as oxygen uptake, lactate threshold, and for the professionals, muscle fiber typing. (Think about how much muscle Lance Armstrong had to sacrifice - at the advice of many, famously including Eddy Merckx - to set the standard for his era. His percentage of lean mass did not change much and was far less important than change in total mass.)

'nuf said. Ride more, read less.