when I first started riding my bike 7 years ago after not having ridden since I was a child it killed me to ride a mile. I was also extremely over weight. However the third or fourth time I rode that one mile it didn't seem so hard, in fact it was almost fun so I decided to double the distance, which of course killed me but soon became fun.I continued doubling my distances until I got to 30 miles and then dropped back to increasing by 10-20% on each ride until now it seems almost not worth he prep time to kit out for a ride of less than 40 miles which is my current average training ride.
I was riding a trek hybrid comfort bike and used to mash the gears but then figured out the spinning approach. I also got a real road bike which made me understnad spinning vs mashing and how to use the gears to my advantage. Within two years I rode my first extended road trip with a group tour. The longest day on that trip was 82 miles.
Since then I have lost 1/3 of former self and done several cross country rides.
It continues to be and adventure and a delight.
Welcome to the journey.
You go girl!
marni
Katy, Texas
Trek Madone 6.5- "Red"
Trek Pilot 5.2- " Bebe"
"easily outrun by a chihuahua."