Risk assessment and managing risk. An Example:
A few weeks ago I posted my intend to go cross country on a Tandem with my wife and SAG supported.
These trips are not cheap (> $10,000). That is one of the risks.
So, we did a biking week in MN to establish endurance and watch for the unforeseen.
The weather was an unusual upper 90's and over 100 in the sun.
It was established that my stoker (wife) cannot tolerate that heat and bike 80 miles/day.
It was also established that the 8-10% grades slowed us to a terrible 6-7 MPH.
I did the same grades on a Madone at 12-14 MPH (short grades) and I did 120 mile/day without heat problems at pace speed.
Long story short: The Tandem tour is cancelled and America by Bicycle Fast South on a Madone is on again for next April.
I think that this example shows how we deal with risk.