You got guts to take this on with no experience. It won't be easy but with your attitude you will accomplish it without a doubt!!!  Hope to see you on the rode.

Suzanne,

I think you have encouraged a bunch of us first timers by your attitude. I have no doubt that you will make it. I am pretty much a novice on bikes although I do work out at a gym. The muscles for bike riding are different, but I figure everything helps.

Looking forward to meeting you.

Having done this ride the last three years I can tell you that it is not all down hill. Look at the profile for day one, there is over a 1000 ft. elevation gain in about 5 miles. Here is the key in my "opinion". Be prepared for your rear to hurt, ride in the rain and self medicate at night. Then don't worry about what time you get in each day. If you plan to ride slow, try to keep moving and don't spend too much time at the rest areas. Just ride as much as you can. If it gets too dark before you get off work ride a trainer. The hard core folks will tell you that it is not the same, however I have found that three hours on a bike saddle is three hours on a bike saddle. It gets your rear ready and your rear does not know if you are on the road or a trainer.

The more time you spend in the saddle the less your rear will hurt on the tour. Make sure you have good bike shorts, "Giordana seem to be the best to me" (Yes that is a plug) but after about 4 or 5 days straight your rear will hurt. The bad part is the last 3 days are flat and you will be looking everywhere for a place to stand up.

Good luck, and come find the Ski Patrol Crowd from the Mts. This year we should be up to about 6 or 7 females in the paceline.  

Bill D. never ever use your real name.

Booz