Freakonwheels

He wants to race a 93 mile (150km) road race coming up in January, and he's a 53 year old man who smokes, and has hardly trained at all (he's had like one bike ride in the past few months and isn't even a regular rider). Sounds like suicide to me...

mattm

at worst he'll bonk and/or puke

i hope

Machka 

He's got time to get into shape ... and 53 isn't old.

Freakonwheels

Yeah I'm sure he'll pull himself together in time. I hope so anyway.

BHBiker

Make sure he has life insurance with your wife as one of the beneficiaries. If not, its not too late to encourage him to get one and a will too.

Siu Blue Wind

Will you be able to find time to work with him? Get him built up for this. Plus it's wonderful father bonding time.

55/Rad

Is it a race or an event ride?

Freakonwheels

This is his bed he can lie in it. Somehow I doubt he'll even enter. We'll see.

Machka 

It's your chance to build up your mileage too ... maybe you can do this event with your father-in-law.

Freakonwheels

I think it's a race, but here's the website. [ur]]https://www.roundthemountain.co.nz/[/url]

My plan is to hopefully be trained up enough for the 2010 race.

Machka 

It's a ride, not a race ... and looks interesting. I'd be interested in the solo "The Enduro" (275km) ride. I'll have to make a note of it.

I would guess that your father-in-law is on one of the team events.

Since it is just a ride ... why don't you do it?

kudude

ding ding ding

and to continue agreeing with everyone, 53 isn't old

Freakonwheels

You're right. The winner doesn't get a prize. I guess that's what separates a race from a ride right?

I might. We'll have to see. I've still got work to do before I can do that distance anyway, but I'll get there in time.

Machka 

That's one of a number of things.



It'll give you some idea if you really want to race or not.

Freakonwheels

They'll be lots more opportunities, only ones that will break me in a little more gently. lol. For a relative newbie 150k is a bit demanding.

kniprm

93 miles ain't all that far. A lot can be done in 3 months and 10 days. Crack that whip.

Campag4life

Get a life insurance policy out on him and hope for the best.

Campag4life

As mentioned...get a life insurance policy out on him and hope for the best.
Anybody who smokes today is a moron.

Freakonwheels

Righto I'll do what I can.

Billy Bones

He's a free man in a free republic. Be comforted that most adults will respond appropriately to metabolic stress feedback and adjust speed appropriately.

patentcad

Fixed.

Rowan

NZ a republic? I'm not sure about that, being and all as it's part of the British Empire... errr... Commonwealth, so Queen Lizzy is still the head of state.

At least it has free health care!

It sounds like your FiL needs an incentive to get him motivated. Coaxing him out on a casual training program (ie, one that he doesn't actually realise he is doing) is a start, and it can involve you as a riding partner. Having someone to ride with is great for the discipline.

Encourage him to start with a modest distance target for each week, and build on that by 10% each succeeding week. The worst thing would be for him to try to set off on a 150km ride (or even 50km one) straight off... painful and not very productive.

He'll either get a major wake-up call about the smoking, or will handle it (albiet uncomfortably).

And correct -- 53 is not old -- it is the new 43. And the way things are going in some countries bordering the Pacific Ocean, it will soon be the new 33.

bakerjw

3 to 4 months away is doable if he is serious. Serious means, quitting smoking and starting to ride regularly.

I am 44, don't smoke, had a clear cardio checkup back in July, and have been riding hard for 2 1/2 months. a 93 mile ride with our rolling hills and mountains would be a little tough and would take me 6 to 7 hours (I would fade in the last 30 miles). I can't imagine doing it with little ride time and being a smoker.

Machka 

Quite a few of the European PBP riders smoke. NOT that I'm advocating smoking at all ... I'd be happier if everyone would quit ... but smokers can still do long rides.

BillyD

He's toast.