I can't add any meaningful advice to all the great stuff already posted here for you BikerHen, but I've got to say how SHOCKED I was when I was starting out last spring on my bike for the first time since, oh, I was 12 years old and I decided to join a local club on their invitational ride (only 25 miles). I was so nervous, I just had to come along on the practice ride they did to make sure the route would work for everyone on the big day. Well, everyone, and I mean everyone from the club working that ride was a grandparent!!! I figured "bike club" meant fast lycra-clad men and women about 25. Not so!! Lots of clubs are a real mix of all ages, sizes and tastes in riding! Riding with other people who you can identify with adds so much to the experience! Welcome and glad to have you here at the TE forum.