First, welcome! Congrats on the weight loss, and on the solo ride! I don't do many of them myself, and those that I do, I'm pretty sure I don't push myself to ride with nearly the same intensity as when I'm with DH. He does serve his purpose when we ride together!

Now this lycra thing: When I saw two guys in lycra shorts, flapping open button down shirts and huge hairy beer guts hanging out loose for the world to see as they rode their bikes on a BUSY city trail, that's when I decided that I don't have to hide my not quite perfect body! As far from ideal as mine is, it's not like those, and if THEY can be seen by the world, well then.

And so I decided on being comfortable. Someday, maybe I'll look pretty good in those lycra shorts while I'm being comfortable!

Karen in Boise