- While camping may appeal to many, this old man prefers a hot shower and clean bed after a full day in the saddle. For a TransAm, this could add a few thou$and$ to the cost, but for a weeklong tour, cheapie hotels might only add $200-400 to the cost in many locales. So lessen your weight by leaving the gear behind, and you can ride with the anticipation of the great nights sleep we get after a day of all-out physical exertion.

- Don't ride 100 miles or even 50 miles at a time. Ride one mile or 3 miles, then decide to ride another 3...until they add up. There's a bridge that I never aim for the top of, I just ride one concrete slab at a time, then eventually I notice I'm on a level slab and it's all downhill from there.

- It's a cliche, and a bumper sticker and unoriginal, but...a bad day on the bike is better than a good day in the cubicle

- Don't sweat your equipment, or the wind or your route or anything external. It's all between your ears. If you want to do it, you'll find a way to do it. If it's not fun, why would you want to do it in the first place?

- If I can do, ANYBODY can do it. I'm no prize physical specimen, but determination (with a dose of stupidity) can go a long way. I did 222 miles in two days on a hybrid last week, read about it here.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/MemDay07