A 50-mile ride is serious business. Are you riding regularly 20-40 miles at a time? By regularly, I'm talking several times a week, or more often for shorter rides of 10-20 miles.

You don't mention how long ago your surgery was. If you are still in recovery mode, then I would say that 50 miles is alot to handle.

Frequent, shorter rides are necessary to build up to a 50-miler.

Here's my story. You can see how it compares to your situation, and maybe it will help you make the right decision. I, too, am planning to ride a 50-mile ride on Sunday. It wll be my first in a very long time. However, I commute to work 4 times per week, 28 miles round trip (that's two 14-mile rides per day), and I've been doing that consistently since January (850 miles since January). And still, I'm a bit nervous about making it 50 miles.

This is what I will do, nutrition-wise. Eat some pasta and a salad for dinner this evening. Before my ride, I'll have coffee, cereal with milk, and a banana. During my ride, I'll likely eat two Luna bars, but maybe only one. After my ride, I'll eat an apple, and I'll likely be very hungry for the rest of the day. I'm thinking pizza and beer for dinner tomorrow night (my neighbor owes me a pizza anyways)!

Hydration is also very important, not just during your ride, but all the time.

You can certainly ride 50 miles, but from what little I know about you so far, I'd say that perhaps not yet (but then there are lots of details missing!).

Take care of yourself for the long haul.
tulip