How much riding for a 50 miler in July?

[JH-NV]

Has anyone rode the San Jose 2008 Livestrong Challenge? I would like to register for the 50 miler.
I have been faithfully going to spin class 4-5 days a week since the first week of January, with some walk/jog training as well. I have ridden one time on the road with mtb. I am actively searching for a used/new road bike. I read this forum faithfully for great tips.
Should I expect to be able to ride much longer than 50 miles on the weekends, in order to comfortably finish a 50 mile event?
Is this too much of a reach for a new rider? Any advice would be much appreciated :)

[Mr. Bloom]

It is not too much to expect, but road riding will be different from indoor. Silver counsels me to not increase my weekly mileage by more than 10%/week in preparing for a big ride or pain/Failure may result.

Good luck

[emily_in_nc]

Has anyone rode the San Jose 2008 Livestrong Challenge? I would like to register for the 50 miler.
I have been faithfully going to spin class 4-5 days a week since the first week of January, with some walk/jog training as well. I have ridden one time on the road with mtb. I am actively searching for a used/new road bike. I read this forum faithfully for great tips.
Should I expect to be able to ride much longer than 50 miles on the weekends, in order to comfortably finish a 50 mile event?
Is this too much of a reach for a new rider? Any advice would be much appreciated :)

NO PROBLEM! You have several months to train, but do try to find a road bike soon and start getting out for some short rides. You don't need to do any rides >= the event length, as the rest stops, adrenaline, and camraderie of doing an event will carry you farther than on your training rides, but for a 50-miler, I'd want to have done a couple of 40-milers and one ~42-44 miler prior to the event. You can work up to that fairly quickly, even just riding on outside on weekends and spinning during the week. If you have any knee issues, you'll have to increase your mileage a bit slower, but you can still meet this goal.

Keep us posted, and best of luck! :)