[Dennis Kalma]

Stijn, I sort of wonder if you are missing the point....namely, you can't just do one thing (cycling) and get broad benefits like what you need to ski or improve your back pain. You need to do something that works the broader range of back/leg and maybe arm muscles as well, need to do it in some sort of way that keeps changing a bit to prevent plateauing and make sure you optimize your result with some diet and scheduling.

The gut thing is not it for sure ( I still have one), but I would say that I now feel I can do pretty well any physical thing I want as I have done a fairly broad programme. Nothing complicated, all I have is a ball, bosu and free weights for strength training....but it is the combination of stuff that got me from pretty well a physical basket case to OK.

Just FYI, I also take yoga....for stretching, and it also has made a difference in mobility and relieved a number of muscle strains and pains...

Think about it....either that or get a job in construction that will work you physically as part of the deal, or play some fairly active sport that uses a lot of muscle groups...many ways to do it...

Dennis