OK, I think I've got it. Thanks for all the red and green flags to look for.

I've gone on our LBC's "slower" weekly ride and been fairly challenged (and plan on continuing with them), but I'm looking for a "bigger" ride. I've been looking in Cycle California! magazine (I live in Nevada), and there are a TON (both charity and not) and I'm just so overwhelmed with options!

One other question: how do I know when I'm "ready"? Let's say I want to do a 35 mile ride. What should I be able to do before the ride? Just be able to do 35 miles, or is there a diffent milestone (per se) I should be looking for?