Thanks for all the replies, it is appreciated.
How much riding are you doing is the next question ?
How often is the key ?
Not enough! About 2 or 3 a week. (although it was 0 in january!). For about 90-120 minutes. One of those may be on the turbo. If so, about 35-45 minutes.
Rather than fitness, is the pain going to be a bigger issue during a ride of this length?
Possibly. Until I've ridden 60km I won't know! OTOH, after about an hour the pain subsides. Looking positively, being in a group I could be distracted by chatter and not notice the pain.
Just two weeks before the big ride is a bit late to be making any significant changes that you won't have the opportunity to endurance test prior to the event?
True. Sensible advice.
What are the abort options on the night?
Am investigating. Maybe none until about 3/4 way.
Finally, maybe you know you shouldn't do this ride?
How perspicacious of you Skol. And maybe why I am wavering in my head. Apart from this being a fave ride of mine, I also want to do this to introduce a friend to the Fridays and she would benefit from chatting with Ride Leader about a big summer ride she signed up for. She has made it clear, re-iterating your last sentence, she will not feel let down by cancelling.
Would a 165mm crank on the shorter leg and a 170mm crank on the shorter leg help?
I would take ibuprofen during the ride to ease any pain.
As someone sensibly suggested, now is not the time to make changes, if I make the ride. Something to consider after the ride, thanks.
I have better drugs than ibuprofen, which will be used !
Don't worry about trying to do 115km in one go before the ride. If you can do the distance, spread over a week on say 2 or 3 rides, you will be fine on the night.
I was not planning in doing this. Thanks for the advice.
The point is this. If you adjust the saddle height or make other bike changes it will be a compromise and might bring in to play some or all the issues I solved with a heel raiser. You will also be changing your overall bike position which could result in discomfort.
I feel you should address the leg length and not the bike position. Find a quality heel raiser and if possible take advice from a podiatrist.
Thanks. I will not make saddle height changes before the ride. Will look into leg length and heel raisers after.
If you wear cleats, you could shim one cleat to suit, using longer bolts if needed.
Simple idea, I like it and will look into, thanks.
My starting point would be to examine the source of the anxiety. What exactly is the problem with not being able to finish the ride? Is it logistics? Is there a pace you think may be difficult to maintain?
Or is it personal?
Perhaps the former can be solved with a bit of contingency planning?
The latter is harder to tackle.
Who are you riding with? Do you know them well? Have you explained your situation to them? There may be others in similar positions, you know.
Riding with a group can be inspiring if we can feed off the positive energy of the group. However, being "dropped" can be the reverse if we're depending on that group. One possible solution is to look at it as less of a group ride and more of a personal one. A "I'll get there when I get there" approach.
I think you should chat with the group and get it out in the open and I think you should give yourself (and your old hip) a break and not think of it as "only" 115km. It's a challenge.
Best of luck.
Glad you found this Hobbes and took time to post. I can always rely on you to look at things from a slightly different angle, this is good.
Logistics is one potential difficulty. If I have to bail, there are limited opportunities before about 85-90 km. Am making enquiries. Pace will not be a problem; even unfit I can keep up with the backmarkers!
Personal, yes it could be. I will have a chat with myself to try to discover the root cause. Yes, I know the group and the majority of the experienced riders. No, I have not discussed it with them - logistically this is impossible. But I will chat with Ride Leader and one or two others, it they are there.
Riding with this group is inspiring, it is something I thoroughly enjoy a number of times during the year, which is why I would prefer not to miss it. It is good for my mental well being. I agree about being 'dropped', yet this will not happen here - I would happily bail before any dropping occurs.
Thanks for your insight.
On a happier note, I had a good session on the turbo late afternoon with little discomfort during the session (thank you Robi Draco Rosa!) and equally important, since then. The real test will be this weekend when I hope to go outside for a happy couple of hours - weather permitting!