You guys are so right - I am overthinking this to death and I am letting myself picture non-stop the falls, how bad my falls have hurt, my friend's fall. I'm not picturing the positive side of going clipless - of enjoying the benefits of it (which I'm sure I will feel once I relax). I'm so caught up in the negative that I'm not seeing the positive. I trait that I battle in every aspect of my life but that I am working on.

Shoot - there are so many good suggestions and posts I want to respond to them all. AMP - I like that we're in similar places and both trying to get through it. Tulip - DEAD ON - you're so right that I'm focusing only on my fear and the negative. I know I need to change this. Sundial - I always forget to paperboy it (isn't that what it is called) - I can always do that if I need to and there are no cars. NY - TOTALLY need to just envision it going smoothly. Withm - I do keep thinking this - hello - everyone rides this way - I can too! And Faster - thanks for just reminding me that it may SEEM easier for others.

Everyone here has been so helpful - sometimes I need a smack. And I need a smack!

This may be a bit much - but the one thing I've learned through cycling is how it is such a metaphore for life in general. I think of how when you approach a hill from the base it looks huge and you think you can never get over it - you can't imagine how you will have the power to get up it - and then slowly you make your way up - chugging along - and you get to the top and you're so proud! There was this hill on my training rides and it was so huge to me - we would take a route that took us down it for weeks. The first week we had to go up it I paniced. But I got up it and celebrated all day. So ........ you now have me excited to do this. To get past this fear. To picture myself reaping the rewards!

When I signed up for my Century in 2008 with Team in Training I NEVER thought could train and ride it. No one in my life thought I would do it. On the morning of the ride my brother-in-law told my sister he thought I wouldn't make it 5 miles. But I did 17 weeks of training - every training ride - I only sagged 2x - and I rode every mile of the 103.3. So if I can do that - I certainly can do this!

(How's that for a pep-talk?) THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!