Quote Originally Posted by choltz View Post
yup. the org is not a professionally led cycling tour and it is mostly amateur cyclists who are all new to cycling. we do have one leader who has made the trip before and another who is an avid cyclist. (there are four leaders). the organization benefits affordable housing and I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity full time for five months last year---so I'm leading but my knowledge lies more with the building aspect. We will start out at 50 miles or so/ day and build. We average around 70 miles a day with the longest ride being 110 miles.
That's admirable (I work with nonprofit organizations to develop affordable housing), but...

Doing a 4,000 mile tour with beginning cyclists with inexperienced leaders somehow doesn't seem like a very good idea. I mean, I wish you the best of luck and everything. Keep your sense of adventure and humor, and hope that everyone else does, too.

First, I hope the bike fits you. Go to a good bike shop and get it professionally fit. It will cost you $100+ and it's well worth it.

Channelluv has really great advice. You'll want to be as prepared as possible. You'll need to know how to fix bikes (flat tires, broken chains, loose headsets, broken spokes, brakes, derailleur cables at the very minimum). You'll want to educate yourself on proper bike fit because I imagine that alot of these riders will have ill fitting bikes, which will result in aches and pains and sores that will send some home. You'll want to educate yourself on nutrition and fueling and hydration, and learn to recognize signs of bonking before they happen. I assume you'll be certified in CPR--if it's not required then do yourself a favor and get yourself certified. Wear your helmet and make sure everyone else does, too. Have lights for low-light riding (night, dawn, dusk, fog, rain).

You might want to check out Selene Yeagar's book on cycling for women. It has a good century (100 mile) training plan that you can start now to be ready for the start of the tour.

Good luck and let us know if you have any questions as you get closer to the start of your ride.