Keep in mind we have the Paris Roubaix crowd in attendance here. And that is all fine, it has to be better to be in shape, and it has to be a waste of some time to start out a tour slow. But we also have people who take their kids cross country. Knowing kids, they probably didn't spend all winter on rollers in the garage. I don't think it serves any purpose to make some super athlete myth around touring, just about anyone not dead can do it. How many other sports are done from a wheel chair.

As someone else sagely pointed out, one can crash the first day and then do short mileages the next few, and be up and running on the third or fourth. My only thing is that if one just takes it easy the first few days anyway, then one can avoid the crash. If you are at all times comfortable you should do fine.

Oh, here is another tip. If you are starting from a large metro, take a ride, or the transit out about 40 miles. First you probably have all that under the belt by now. Second you won't feel as likely to press since it should be nicer to start out there. Third, you won't feel you have to do a first big day just to get out to somewhere you can set up camp. If you are starting out from a foreign ugly city, do the same thing so as: Four, not to get creamed by local traffic you don't understand, or five, to waste a lot of time route finding in hell.

In my two local cities, the west end of town (fresh air side) is picturesque, the east end side is gross and industrial, Super Fund Country. So ride into town if coming from the west (as maybe one should be), and leave town by transit. I have to say I haven't done this, I like city driving, but I can see how it might make sense.

Oh, another thing, how about not training? If you already are the super athlete, and are planing on going on a tour with mere mortals, how about slacking off and riding in the back. Two days of super hero stuff has been known to break up families.