I'm smiling ear to ear for you! Yes, I've been learning, also, you've got to love and work with the body you have. I'm a big woman riding on country roads, too. It's so easy to think of everything that I'm not - not thinner, not younger, not more fit, not able to buy better gear - and so on. But it's a pretty uninteresting train of thought, not just for me, but for everyone around me, too.

My epiphany came during a spin class. I privately call the trainer my "Obi-wan" because he's taught me so much. We were doing a long climb to some great mystic music, lights off, just focussing on our own bodies. And I realized that in every workout, I treated my body like the enemy. Hated it for what it could not do. Called it names. Instead of being grateful for what it could do, and taking care of it. And enjoying my effort.

That was the life-changing moment for me. Congrats on your own. Just wondering - any other way you've been robbing yourself of your strength by trying to camouflage? Someone here on the forum asked me a question like that once, and it was a wonderful day.

I've got family in the Bay Area, so hopefully you'll see my round self on your roads someday!