42 miles...Should I?

[withm]

Thank you everyone, for your knowledgeable feedback. I can't say what is going to happen with the ride in two weeks but I'm pretty sure I want to do the metric at the Seagull Century this year. I hope some of the others here in Maryland will come down and do it as well.

I've done the Sea Gull a few times and it can be a great ride.

You can count on WIND, and since it's held at the tail end of hurricane season, there is a very good likelihood of severe weather. Which is not so much fun.

That said, there will be 6,000-8,000 of your closest friends riding with you.

At a minimum you need to be comfortable with group riding, and be able to check behind you before ever passing someone. The speeds at which some of the long pacelines pass you can be intimidating. (Imagine yourself in the middle of the peloton at the Tour de France).

There are always some people on heavy hybrids, and they seem to be perfectly happy with the situation. I would suggest that you'll be happer if you have done some 50 mile rides by then, and are able to carry 2 water bottles (or a camelback). Bike shorts for sure, and by Oct you may need a jacket, or arm warmers.

Get some friends to sign up with you, it's a fun event for a group of similarly paced cyclists to do together.

[kamikazejane]

Go for it girl!!!!!!!! Just keep the pace you feel most comfortable doing, remember to hydrate and fuel. You will do great.