I hope I am not looking forward to the same thing you've been through. I'm 5'4", 200 plus a bit more pounds, and am riding to lose weight and get ready for an 80-mile, 3 day ride with 4 friends in September. I wrote a local bike club and they said all were welcome. I did write back to ask if my speed is fast enough to keep up with them. (about 10 mph) I can still outride all of the other women who are taking the trip with me, because I'm actually out biking three times a week.