u/rare_koWalahhh

Ok ladies, seeking advice on a super random want. My 39th birthday is coming up later this week and I decided to do a 39 mile ride that morning as my personal celebration. I really want to bring a cupcake with me to consume (and photograph) at my halfway mark of the out and back since it'll also be my longest ride to date. I usually have a running style vest on with a large water bladder since I am a sweaty thirsty person, but cannot for the life of me figure out how to make this logistically work. Any insights? I can, and will just have the damn cupcake in my driveway pre-ride at 8am if that's what it takes, but I thought ON the ride would be so much more authentically me and my weirdness.

Hey, has anyone tried Pace shoes? I have a wider toe box and semi narrower heel and their shape looks like it will actually fit without that front of foot pain. Also, for the price, they feel like they would be a good beginner shoe. I haven't stopped with my flat pedals yet, but their mountain bike shoe seems to be a happy medium while I progress. Has anyone tried them? Is the quality any good? Reviews look good, but you can never be sure with purely online reviews so I figured I would see if any of you ladies have an opinion.

Ok. So as stated above, I know my question is rather niche and after doing as much research on my own, much of what is out there and what I learned as an athlete throughout my life isn't cutting it these days. I have an autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthrits, and am luckily FINALLY as well managed as we think I will be and feel somewhat like myself again. The thing is between injury, illness, and more courses of steroids than I can remember, I have put on significant weight. I know I will never be at my pre illness size, but started cycling as a low impact way to start the process and try to both save my body and mind as best I can while trying to look and feel more like myself again.

Now, onto my challenge. I am eating in a deficit. Not a huge one, but a deficit that has allowed me to lose about 15lbs since the start of the year. With that, and how prone I am to fatigue, I find myself NEEDING fuel on rides even shorter ones. I have no clue how to fuel without overdoing it since I am a former volleyball player so I would fuel between matches and some quick sugar for a garorade between sets was enough in that past life.To be honest I am still just keying in on proper hydration. Does anyone have insights? Perhaps a fellow autoimmune girlie in this group that gets the weird nuances of trying to be athletic with a rebellious body?

Thanks in advance ❤️