Thanks for such a great thread, ladies! I am 27, trying to stay ahead of the grim possibility of pre-diabetes, and started riding seriously again about 2 weeks ago, after a 3 year hiatus. This thread has been such a great boost!

Sometimes I, too, get down on myself when the svelte athletes on their road bikes whiz around me without so much as an "on your left!," but it's good to remember to do what we can. Like other posters have said, we don't start out riding centuries. We need to work up to it!

I ride 10 miles each way to work, and on days when the ride is hard, I just remember my little mantra: "if you need to, stay in a low gear and do what you can. You don't have to rush."

Thanks again, ladies! I <3 this board!