Yes, he is my friend. That is why I am struggling with this. I felt obligated to tell him how I felt. I did not and still do not feel that it is reasonable for a person who has never ridden and has no fitness base to attempt this. I know it probably hurt him a bit that I don't "believe" in him. But, now I have a clear conscious as he spends his savings on plane fare for this event.
Yes, I will give him advice on buying a bike and safety on the road. He can start riding as soon as he buys a bike. If I were taller, I'd give him one of mine. But as for training, my training time is the only thing that I have that I' m not sharing.
Thanks for all your input. I'm confident that I did the right thing by stating my opinion. I hope now he'll go and prove me wrong.