I have been using Wii Fit Plus for a while now, but I am fairly new to Island Cycling. I just started exploring last week and am now completely addicted. I love the workout I get, and I am so focused on the goal that I forget I am working out and burning calories!

Just yesterday I finally completed the Expert Course finding all 20 flags and unlocked the Free Cycling. I have been studying maps (from this forum) and watched a few videos of the recommended course to find all 20 balloons. In the videos I watched the courses started on the highest terrain on the same road that leads to the castle.

To my surprise, when I started the Free Cycling, I had to start in the same place as in the Expert Course. I actually was on track to find all 20 balloons, but I lost all that time up front to get up to the castle level, that by the time I got to the beach and was about to launch myself onto the grassy plateau, the clock ran out. I only needed those last 2 balloons on the beach.

So... I tried again, and this time the Free Cycling start point was halfway down the beach! So I was immediately posed with the dilemma - which way to I go? Do I collect all the beach balloons since I am half-way there? If I do, I will have to ride the beach in both directions and lose lots of time. Or do I forget the beach balloons and just explore the island and get a good 30 minute workout? I ended up choosing to just explore.

My question is, why is the start point changing? Does it do this for everyone? Is there a way to control where the Free Cycling start point is?

Thanks ahead for any insights,
ggg

***SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER***
I did make an interesting discovery... when I got the balloon that tucked behind the red bridge I decided to ride into the water directly under the bridge, just to see what would happen. It resurrected me on the top of the bridge right at the highest point so that I didn't have to ride uphill! Maybe this is old news to all you experts, but if you happen to be traveling in that direction, it could save some time!

In Free Cycling, you always start where you left off the time before--or at least close by. When I start out at the beach, I always turn around to get that balloon at the far end, then get the balloon on the bluff, then the balloon by the big rock. After that, I head to the balloon by the bridge. (And yes, after getting that balloon, I fall off so I can reincarnate already on the bridge.) As for the that balloon way, way at the other end of the beach? I save that for later.

Thanks for your help... I finally did figure it out. So I guess if you really want to go for any specific goal, if your 30 minutes runs out and leaves you in a "bad" starting point, you need to do a mini-run just to position yourself for a more effective start point, then press B to save your game. Is that what everyone is doing?

Yes, that's what I do.