Brevet this October - insane idea?

[Catrin]

I am sorely tempted to try out a RUSA Brevet in mid-October (SE Ohio). It is 200k, and am trying to decide if this is a totally insane idea to shoot for in my first year of cycling...given that is only 4 months away - but that is 4 months away! I would need to do some serious training to get my legs ready for a trip of that length as right now I am only up to 30 miles...

Obviously I would need to do a lot of work to get ready for this - which is fine considering it involves my bike - am just rolling the idea around and seeing what it feels like. This is the kind of riding that got me interested enough to learn how to ride in the first place

Now I have a touring bike that FITS me and feels great to ride, I am seriously considering it. This October date is the earliest that I would consider - there is one in Nashville, TN in late November, but it is certainly easier for me to get to Ohio...

Is this a totally insane idea?

[KnottedYet]

Go for it!

Where would we be if we didn't shoot for insane things? Grab life with both hands and give it a big wet kiss!

http://xkcd.com/752/

Sister Madonna Buder does Ironman tris, and she's in her 80's. She didn't even start running until she was 50. Sounds like she's doing insane things, eh?

Go for it!

[Zen]

Do you really need the external validation?
Do or do not...

[OakLeaf]

Go for it! Everyone needs a goal, right?

I'd offer to join you, but it's likely I'll be running the Columbus marathon the next day. Not that I've signed up for that, or even made a mental commitment to it, yet...

Hard to tell what the terrain might be like, and they haven't posted a route yet. It'll almost surely be hilly, but the really insane hills are southeast. Starting from the southwest side of Columbus makes it likelier you'll go southwest, since there are a limited number of places to cross the river. If you want to, you can be ready.

[Catrin]

Do you really need the external validation?
Do or do not...

No, it isn't for the validation - I was just wondering how insane this sounded for someone in her first year of cycling I am good at extremes, and have learned over the years that the occasional reality check is a good thing

Go for it! Everyone needs a goal, right?

I'd offer to join you, but it's likely I'll be running the Columbus marathon the next day. Not that I've signed up for that, or even made a mental commitment to it, yet...

Hard to tell what the terrain might be like, and they haven't posted a route yet. It'll almost surely be hilly, but the really insane hills are southeast. Starting from the southwest side of Columbus makes it likelier you'll go southwest, since there are a limited number of places to cross the river. If you want to, you can be ready.

This is great information - and should you decide that this sounds like more fun than the marathan let me know I think that Map My Ride gives assorted training plans for different needs and I will check theirs out. I need to do this in a way that I will be ready without burning myself out/hurting myself. I am good at extremes, sometimes too good

Go for it!

Where would we be if we didn't shoot for insane things? Grab life with both hands and give it a big wet kiss!

http://xkcd.com/752/

Sister Madonna Buder does Ironman tris, and she's in her 80's. She didn't even start running until she was 50. Sounds like she's doing insane things, eh?

Go for it!

Go Sister Madonna Buder! I didn't step over the top tube of a bike until 2 months after my 50th, so there seems to be hope for me

+1 on grabbing life with both hands and giving it a big wet kiss! The longer I cycle/better shape I get into - and because of that the more I feel like reaching out and grabbing life! Too many years of being over-weight and working FAR too much pretty much kept me from everything but my computer and television. As I said in a post several months ago, cycling does indeed seem to be the fountain of youth - at least for me

[redrhodie]

Wow, you sure have chutzpah! I mean that in the best way.

[Catrin]

Wow, you sure have chutzpah! I mean that in the best way.

Thank you for the compliment