yugdlo
06-13-08, 07:57 PM
I wasn't sure whether to post this here or in the 50 + forum. It's been too many years since I've done any serious riding. I've finally got to the point where I could spend more time on the saddle than just tooling to the local grocery and back. 5 years ago I promised myself that I would ride the Preble County covered bridge ride before I turned 50. Well the ride is June 28th and my 50th birthday is in August, so........... Anyway the ride is varying from 15 miles to 75 miles. It's mostly on level road, and I'd like to go the whole distance, but I'm wondering if I'm biting off more than I can chew. I've been on the treadmill since late last fall and I've done a couple rides of 18 to 20 miles, and my average speed has been about 13mph,(not sure if my odometer is completely calibrated yet). I'd hoped to log more miles to date but spring fix up chores always seemed to get in the way. The rides I have done I haven't felt bad when I've finished. A little winded, but otherwise OK. I'm still trying to figure out a cadence I'm comfortable with. I do pretty good on the flats but the hills kill me. I'm hoping to do 30, if not more at least once in the coming week, and hopefully more the next. So what it all boils down to is I'm looking for advice. Am I completely crazy to attempt the whole thing? Any good tips on finding cadence? What is good packable energy food? And lastly, is there anyone out there going to this ride that wouldn't mind letting a poor hapless soul hang on there wheel? In retrospect, I figure if I bonk after 15 miles, I've made the first step in getting back to something I love to do and have missed very much.