Hi, photos! with shorts....if you can afford it, buy the best chamois....everything else will be good too. I love the Louis Garneau shorts I have - the chamois is amazing with several different thicknesses in all the right places. Absolutely, without a doubt, buy shorts with a chamois made for a woman!! If there's a seem in the middle you will be sad!!

as for pedals, I highly recommend the candy SL. I use these on both my road bike and my mountain bike. I can swap them myself as they attach with a regular allan key. I've never had a problem with mud or getting out when I need to. And they are LIGHT! (the ti ones are lighter...)

As for learning to use them: I recommend using them on a trainer. Practice spinning, but more importantly, practice getting in and out of them. Once you go SPD, either on the road or on the trails, you'll never want to go back! You have such better power and control it's fantastic!

As for your jersey - make sure it fits well...try a bunch on, definitely buy a ladies cut so it fits you right. I've never thought much about the elastic....yeah, I think the one without that I use sometimes is a bit more comfy, but it doesn't seem to have a big impact for me.

I hope your recovery from surgery is going well. are you making progress every day? That's got to be the best part of it, isn't it?

Welcome to the crazy world of wheels! Enjoy!!

Namaste,
~T~