I Want To Get Fit By Biking .

I just got an exercise bike and want to get fit. How far should I try to cycle every day?

It isn't really about distance.The most efficient way to increase fitness is to get warmed up first. It's really hard to get fit while being injured! So stretching is important.Once warmed up, cycle as if you're out for a casual bike ride until you feel comfortable and relaxed.Then cycle hard as if you're being chased by a lion, so that means as fast as you can. Probably will only last 45 seconds, until you feel like you can't continue, your legs are aching. At that point don't stop, just go back to a casual speed.You can test your fitness level at this point by setting a timer to time how long it takes until you feel like you can go hard again.When you feel like you give it your all again, do it. Until you feel fatigued. Then go back to casual until you feel OK. Then stop, hydrate, stretch, rest and go find something else to fill your time.Check how you feel the next dayIf you feel good - go for it again.If you feel tired - stretch and cycle casually.If you are aching - just do some light stretches, be careful not to over do it and repeat daily until you feel good before you start.If this doesn't work, nothing will.Seek professional advice before starting this for any medical conditions that could be affected by undertaking strenuous activity.Edit..Rest days are also very important.At least one day a week.In my experience, 3 days on then one day rest gives the best results. With 2-3 days rest (you'll know yourself if you think 2 or 3 is best, it differs for different people) after every 4 3day period.So 3 on, 1 rest, 3 on, 1 rest, 3 on, 1 rest, 3 on and then 2 or 3 days rest. Then start this cycle again.

How you keep your body fit by cycling?

2 ways - “sprinting” and “endurance.”“Sprinting” in biking is where you’re practically jumping on the pedals, trying to get every last bit of power, and go just about as fast as you can. This is equivalent to anaerobic exercise - extreme bursts meant to train power, speed, and strength. In a way, this is like “maxing” while bodybuilding.Endurance is essentially anything where you maintain that heart rate (aerobic) for an extended period of time. This is best done on flat areas, no hills (uphill is too hard to regulate the same speed, and downhill, well, that’s just fun, but doesn’t take effort).When I was at my fittest from cycling alone, I would ride to work every day of the week (M-F), 6 mile round trip, maintaining as close to an aerobic level as I could manage. On Saturdays I would do sprints in between my personal long haul route - a nice 18 mile circuit that cut through Fort Collins, along the Spring Creek and Poudre trails. Every 5 minutes, I’d sprint for 30 seconds.Combining these two methods of riding, you can effectively work your lower half as well, if not better, than any gym equipment. Plus, you get to see the sights and feel the air of wherever you’re biking/cycling.

I want to transform my 26" mountain bike into a 29". What can I use from the 26" and what will I have to get new?

This is one of those situations where it would probably be cheaper for you to just sell your whole bike and buy a whole new one instead of parts swapping/buying/selling. (Assuming that you didn't get a lot of parts for free.)You can reuse your drivetrain, brakes, seat-post, seat, stem, handlebars (and everything attached to them). But this assumes that your new frame and new fork will have the same diameter holes for all of these parts. What normally ends up happening is that you find that your crank won't fit, or seat-post diameter changed, etc.  Bike companies are constantly changing little things that you wouldn't notice unless you are really into the specs. So my advice is to just sell a whole bike, and get a whole bike. If you like your brakes, or seat, then switch them out with the new bike and have a whole other bike to sell.  Otherwise you will end up with a garage full of junk, and a wallet full of receipts. BTW, if you buy a new bike you can look into the 27.5 bikes that are all the newest craze.

If you buy a bicycle with the aim of getting fit, should you buy the lightest bicycle you can afford or a cheaper, heavier one?

Does the weight matter? Depends on how much weight you are talking about and how much you are climbing. The difference between a 20-lb bike (entry level road bike) and a 10-lb road bike (carbon competitive bike) will be noticeable, but realistically only on climbs. The difference between a 10-lb bike and a 11-lb bike is negligible except at higher levels of competition/riding where seconds matter. If you are biking by yourself, this doesn't matter at all. You should bike at whatever speed makes you feel good.If you're a BAMF and riding with friends, you will probably smoke them because you are better at riding bikes. I like this story about a guy from Alaska who kicked ass in a mountain biking event with a heavy Wal-mart bike: Fat Bike Slays Sea Otter ClassicIf you're not a BAMF and riding with people who are better than you, a lighter bike will help you keep up with the joneses for awhile, but the only way to get better and faster at riding a bike is to ride your bike. Once you get to that point, you can pick whatever bike makes you feel good.If you want some science, and not just opinion, here's some statistics on wattage output/efficiency based upon bike weight: Bike Weight and the Myth of Fast Bikes

What are some good bike fitting places in the SF Bay Area?

If you really want an independent opinion, don't get fit at a shop. There are bike fitting experts, but they can be expensive. Some options on the Peninsula:Revolutions In FitnessMenlo Bike Club :: Bike FitSportvelo - Bicycle FitI don't know the rest of the Bay Area well, but I think getting fit by one of these types is well-worth the money.