Petrified

[bikerHen]

Hey there Notsportygirl,
I felt the same way about my first 50 mile ride. It was way more miles than I had ever attempted. Despite rain for half of the ride, my daughter and I completed the whole 50 (hilly) miles. We stoped a lot, were close to the last ones back but we did the entire ride and had a great time. We just kept repeating it's not a race! I have asthma, and take my inhaler with me if my lung are feeling at all tight. So far so good!

I'm with drplasma64. If you can do a nasty hill with one speed you should have no problem with a road bike and shifting gears is easy to learn. Road bikes just rock! I don't know who made the suggestion to me to just go and "try" a road bike. One trip around the parking lot was all it took to hook me. And padded shorts are a must!

And talk about being non-sporting!? My daughter has always been challenged when it comes to sports and exercise. Her goal, which she met, was to make it through high school without having to take a PE class. As a former high school jock, I cringed at her attitude! She does b*tch and whine alot on longer rides but she does them. So I would say pack along the ol' inhaler, ride as many miles as you can between now and the "ride" and GO FOR IT! BikerHen

[KSH]

Your physical description does not worry me... what worries me is that you aren't thinking that you can do it.

Look, half of our physical abilities comes from what goes on between our ears. The other half is what kind of shape we are in, and the training we put into our goals.

You have a month. That is plenty of time to get ready for 35 miles. Ride 3-4 days a week. Start small, maybe 10 miles a day... go from there.

Remember, you can stop and rest... during your training month and when you go to ride your 35 miles.

Once you get a "training schedule" mapped out... sit down and tell yourself that you are strong and that you can do it. When you are riding and you feel tired... set a goal (I will ride for 5 more minutes) and reach it. Also tell yourself, "I have strong thighs, I can do this!".

Have a positive attitude about your physical abilities... and train for your goal. With proper planning and mind set, you can achieve your goal!

[MomOnBike]

Never come to this forum to get talked out of Anything bike-related.

Corollary: If you wonder aloud here if you can do something you WILL be told that you can, should, and that we want a full report when you are done. (I know...)

Back to the problem at hand. If you are really worried about your sun/heat tolerance, talk to your physician. More than likely you'll be told to use sunscreen, drink lots and have fun. But it's nice to have a doc's input sometimes.

[caligurl]

Never come to this forum to get talked out of Anything bike-related.

Corollary: If you wonder aloud here if you can do something you WILL be told that you can, should, and that we want a full report when you are done. (I know...)

ain't THAT the truth!!!

and i'm gonna go one further.. "I" think you could even do a longer ride than 35 if you put your mind to it! so 35? ya... no problem.. GO FOR IT!!!!