Welcome, Tahoe! I'm big myself (leaner and stronger than I was, but German and Cherokee blood will see to it that I stay curvy) and this is my first year of riding on the road after a winter of spin classes at a gym. In April, I could do 3 miles - some small hills - I was shaking by the time I got in the driveway, and I was so slow and wobbly on the bike, I was afraid I'd fall over like in the old Laugh-in show, if you remember Arte Johnson..., and if I saw bikers in the distance, I wanted to just hide in the bushes til they left.

I rode that 3 miles over and over. Then one day, I felt I could do a second lap. Now I'm doing 8 miles, still learning to shift, climb, even how to drink from my water bottle while in motion (still iffy. please don't watch) The strength and speed are really coming a long. You are really in the best place to get questions on anything about getting started, and I mean anything!

Ride on, you're gonna do great!