Newbie here - Plus-Size gal with severe fear of lycra

[effulgent]

Hello all!

Just thought I'd give a quick update to how I'm doing. I've put 71 miles on my bike so far this year. I've been riding 3-4 times a week. Yesterday I rode for 12.5 miles, which is the farthest I have rode so far on one ride. I got really shaky after I had been out for about 50 minutes, so we stopped at a 7-11 for a Fig Newton bar and some Gatorade, so that helped quite a bit. I'm still woefully out of shape, but I'm getting better. My first ride this year I was only able to make it 2.5 miles and my husband had to go and get the car and pick me up because I couldn't make it home. I was worried about that yesterday, but I did finally make it home, even though it took a couple of rests after the one hour point to make it in.

I'm going to do some research and see if I can find a site that has a good list of strengthening exercises that I can do a few times a week to help my riding. I think it would help my riding a lot. Plus it's starting to get hot, and it's going to get to the point where I can't ride when I get home from work at night because it's 99 degrees outside. I want to be getting in better shape so that I can go on nice long bike rides in the mornings on the weekends, and tone and do cardio during the week. Listen to me, sounding all atheletic!!!

I've invested in some Terry Plus knickers and some dri-weave t-shirts, and I've been using my husband's Diadoro shoes. They're about a half-size too big, but the've been working. Now, I just have to talk my husband into letting me try his clipless pedals that go with the Diadoros (with a bike he doesn't ride often) until I can get my own, and we'll be in business!