Hello from another newbie! I've been reading for weeks...

At age 45 and about 220 lbs (used to be about 270), I'm falling in love with riding. I've been training at the gym all winter with a master's class racer who does really great spin classes in the winter months - and I've been lifting weights pretty seriously, too. For the warm weather months, I work on our land, ride, and do weights and yoga when I can work them in ( I also work fulltime teaching brain-injured adults and am an author - my first children's book just came out.) My riding on the road consists of an 8-mile "training loop" as I call it - using that to build strength, speed, and just get comfortable with the bike, shifting smoothly, etc.

I kinda thought there was something wrong with me for preferring to ride alone. Hub & neighbors are always offering to come with me. But if they ride with me, I'm very aware of how slow I am in comparison, and how none of them need to finish a hill on their feet. If I'm by myself - 1 - I'm never last, 2 - I can concentrate on my own focus and body. aiming for them working together. (I didn't even realize I HAD a body 'til I was 40 so I have a lot of catching up to do!)

So all the advice about riding solo and working in companion riders later is great. You are all so fabulous. Thanks for being here!

ps - for all those large women who feel self-conscious on the road - I figured out one day that almost anyone who notices me probably has a large woman in their lives that they love - a mother, sister, friend - and maybe they go home and say "guess what I saw today!"