[Vickie]

About time I answered this. I recommend you start walking post haste. The bike is a good cardio (heart health) exercise but it is limited in the usage of your glutes (buttocks). Since the glutes are your larges muscle and they are hugely participating if not driving the walking motion, you will limit your walking stamina if you don't train them. In the gym the eliptical training machines are the bomb. I have a treadmill ( loaned it out actually and do all of my walking/running outdoors in good weather) and eliptical trainer, a recumbent bike and a stepper (they were popular in 90's). I mix them up but use my eliptical much more than any of the others. The bike is my best bet on a day I just want to raise my heart rate but don't really want a big challenge. Now let me emphasise this is only because of the way I use the bike, it can be plenty challenging, but I find I need the glute work of a standing motion. There are ways to get more glutes on your bike by creating your motion out of your hip, you do that by intending too. Just try it, it will surprise you. Also think of trying to draw the pedal back up after you've pushed it down. Finally keep your feet flat and think of pushing thru the heel more than the toe.

Go to "increasing distance" on this forum and scroll down to Dave Clary's post. He has a link to a cycle site that could probably give you some more specific and useful suggestions for getting more out of your bike.

Just get those glutes working. Also remember that the lat is the primary stabilizer for your back so the more you use and understand it the more it can support your game.

Hope you're still seeing progress. It just may be time to tweek things. Vickie