It's not that I haven't talked to people here about cycling. I too am very outgoing, I talk to many people here but I've only had a couple express any interest in commuting by bike. Most of them think I'm nuts or that it wouldn't last (I've been commuting by bike a couple days a week for almost a year now).

I've dropped about 25lbs with little to no change in diet. Yeah, I was kind of fat last year when I started riding again. I feel like I'm 10 years younger though (I'm 39 years old). It's the best thing I've ever done for my health. I should probably try to change some of my eating habits though. I could stand to lose about 10 more lbs but I don't see that happening without a change in diet.

Yes and no. I have saved close to $300 in gas alone. Gas/wear/tear etc. over $600. Until just recently I was probably eating just as much if not a little more than before I biked. I never just "cruise" into work....I push it to some extent each day. So my apetite increased a lot but it couldn't keep up with the calories I burnt biking. Then I hit a bit of a plateau when I dropped about 28 pounds. I didn't gain anything....but also wasn't losing anything. Amd sad to say there is no shortage of awesome Indian (my crack cocaine) buffets, Chinese, Japanese and whatever other buffet you can imagine. But this past week I have been watching what I eat....moderating my portions....trying to eat a little something every 2-3 hours to keep my blood sugar from crashing and I have lost another 7 pounds this week. I tell people, "I made an amazing discovery...if you substitute a Weight Watchers frozen entre for an Indian buffet run....you actually lose considerable weight." It's true...I have the evidence.

One other item...I haven't really saved a lot of money because riding everyday requires some extra stuff" shirts, bike shorts, tights (now), better lights (front/rear), fenders, new helmet, handlebar bag, new seat, new rear wheel, bike stand (yes I do plan to fix and maintain my bike now), tools, bike repair book, new gloves, bike cover, new tires, new handle bar grips (old ones finally wore out), shoe covers, balcava, and probably a few other items I'm not recalling right now. But my wife is cool with it especially with the weight loss and the good example I am setting for the kids.

It's pretty funny...first hit me in college. I went camping with my girlfriend and it started to rain on us as we were putting up the tent. It was cold too. I thought it was really weird that my watch band was so tight...I looked closer with a flash light and realized my wrist was swollen up like the Stay Puff Marsmallow Man's. People still think I am full of it. Went fishing with a guy on my softball team and we were crossing rivers etc. I took an anti histamine but as soon as the cold water hit my legs my legs swelled up, got red and blotchy and itched like crazy. He soon became a believer. It's serious stuff. I went tubing once and also was on meds but the water was so cold (for me) and the exposure so long that I started to go into shock and black out. Believe it or not...people have died from this by swimming in cold water. But with the proper clothing, meds etc. it is manageable.