New to Road Cycling need advice

[dolcengabbana]

Hi
Just joined up and have read lots of extremely useful information but as with anything new I like to get into well informed.

I have just purchased and been fitted out on a Giant Alliance TCR W, unlike in the US here in Australia the colour is different so mine is brushed black and pink.

I have never used a road bike previously so today I took it for its first spin around my suburb to get my confidence up with the cleats; I have thrown myself in the deep end completely. I find the shoes I got some carbon fibre specialized ones to be super comfortable and surprisingly easy to clip in and out of when I come to a stop and take off.

I love the bike I love the shoes, I got a decent pair of Knicks with padding and have order a pair that all the women in the shops suggested as the best made by specialized. I got a good pair of gloves have a good helmet so seem to be set.

I love cycling but I think I had pushed my mountain bike on our local roads to the point that I was working three times as hard as my partner on his road bike (actually it’s a hand cycle he is a paraplegic) and finding it difficult to keep up as his fitness improved. So here I am all set up my partner has a broken leg se he won't be joining my for a little while or until we are sure that no further damage will be sustained by jumping into the hand cycle whilst his bones are healing. So what I would love advice on is starting off, how often should I start riding, how long as in time or distance I have good strength and reasonable endurance levels, 10-15kms are no problem I think. I am more daunted by riding on the road with all the traffic so I have picked routes where the traffic is minimal in the beginning until my confidence picks up. I would like to lose a few pounds so am looking for a good cycling program to aid/assist with this goal, I have tried to search the net for some training plans for people new to riding with little success or maybe I am looking in the wrong places.

Anyway enough from me, TIA for any advice.
DG.