Boy that must be a hard thing to do - I think it is somewhat akin to my experience learning how to snowboard on the slopes here in Colorado when I was in my 30s.

My problem is that bicycling is bad for the planet and should be avoided at all cost.

Food production is now so energy-intensive that more carbon is emitted
providing a person with enough calories to walk or bike than a car
would emit over the same distance. The climate could benefit if people
avoided exercise, bicycling, ate less and became couch potatoes.

May be bad for the planet (except that I grow some portion of my food) but good for me. I wonder if anyone in the "local food movement" has looked at the carbon costs of shipping local food (usually in Bob the farmer's pick-up truck) to the carbon food print per calorie for mass shipped items? I doubt it since I don't think it would come out too favorably for the local-foodies. But maybe it would compared to an apple from New Zealand.

Willhelm, I was wondering if you knew what might be the carbon footprint of a watermelon?

except that I grow some portion of my food

Me too. I have big garden and I'm expanding it in August - my late summer planting. You ever wonder if you harvest enough in caloric quantity to replace what you actually expend in the activity of gardening? It's a depressing thought, really.

You ever wonder if you harvest enough in caloric quantity to replace what you actually expend in the activity of gardening?

Good question.

Well, I think I used to work a lot harder and spend more time, money, energy, and frustration but after learning over the years it gets easier and I learn more about how to be more efficient.

Being in PA I have just one word on the gardening and energy expenditure/process --- AMISH