Thanks for all of your wonderful words and support (and advice!). And I do agree with you, Asphalt, bikers look at the bike before the cyclist. We've gotten in a few near-wrecks because my husband is weaving through traffic to get a look at the bikes on someone's trunk rack.

My husband seems to be excited that I'm riding with him, even though I'm WAAAAAY slower than him. For now.

I do think I'll just skip the baggy shorts and go for just some basic bike shorts, or maybe the capri length. Those might make me feel a touch more modest.

And I think I'll get the lava jersey to start. That's about as obnoxious as one can get with the plus sized, I think.