STP starts in four days and 10 hours

Geez, I'm going to be in pain.

The most important factor in preparing for any endurance ride is mileage. Since I started riding seriously in early May, I've racked up about 400 miles of saddle time.

That's far short of the cumulative 2,400-plus miles recommended in Cascade Bicycle Club's STP basic training plan. The club's plan recommends participants start riding in mid-February, and Cycle University's Cascade Training Series gets going in mid-March.

According to the club, two-day riders will need to average 10 mph to finish each 103-mile day in under 11 hours, with 55 minutes of breaks each day.

Of course, average speed may need to be higher if you have a flat tire or two, snack frequently or have an insatiable desire to update your STP blog.