imdeanna, i just want to let you know that i was once in your shoes about the spandex thing. i was the last of my friends to buy the shorts just because i looked like an overstuffed sausage in them-i knew they offreed benefits but that look made them less important. as i rode more and more i broke down and bought a pair. i was so self conscious about what i looked like in the padded bike shorts. i would never go inside a public place if everyone else did, and if i saw or met someone other than my riding girls, i was always trying to figure out how to pull my jersey down farther or hide or something. as time went on i bacame more comfortable out in public, and i kinda chuckle to myself when i go to the grocery store in my biking clothes and people just stare..i think i know what they are thinking and they must think i am out there, as they have no idea that i just got thru riding 30-50 miles on a bike. to me, that makes it worth it. i still feel a little awkward at times, but the way i look at it..i will never see these people again so i don't care what they think. as long as i feel good about what mileage i just accomplished, that's all that matters. as far as not sure if you will like biking or not, i gradually worked at it every chance i had, i've been biking now for 4 years or so, and each year i have to complete more miles than the previous year. i love biking. it is my stress releaser and my zen and no one can take that away from me. enjoy!