Starting too late

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So I had a surgery 5 weeks ago and haven't ridden but for a "can I still do this" ride of about 10 minutes. Now I'm doing a 25 mile charity ride Sunday and 50 miles two weeks later. I need to sort of cram. I was fine with 15-20 miles before surgery (surgery included some abs) but I want to do something that makes sense.

If you don't mind my ignorance, what should I do? Try for 25 miles a day for a few days and then rest? Work up to it over three days? Look in the mirror and say, "Are you stupid? You can't get ready for this in six days!"

But 25 miles - really - it is nothing. I'm in really good shape...well, I was 5 weeks ago anyway...:o

assuming you have your doctors permission and were in good shape before sugery a 25-50 mile ride shouldn't be that much of a big deal. you can't cram for fitness. (sorry) it would be better for you not to go overboard this week and just take a couple of rides in the early part of the week to get accustomed the bike again, try an hour tomorrow and see how you feel,(keep the intensity low, you should be able to talk easily the whole time) and make adjustments on that. make sure to stay off the bike or take it very easily on friday and saturday so you will be fresh on your charity ride.
It is very important that you stay hydrated and get a decent amount of food and sleep for the entire week, eat lots of low gi carbs the night before (rice, pasta wheat bread ect.)
during the ride keep the speed down and make sure to drink lots of water (1 bottle/hour) and eat something with lots of sugar in it in the first half of the ride and always make sure youre drafting someone if its windy.
if you get really fatigued have someone push you or grab on to the back of a willing riders seat and let them pull you. hope everything goes well.

Thanks so much. I did do an hour and 15 today - pretty mellow - and I feel fine. I was slow, but not weak, if that makes sense. When I wanted to push a little here and there, I was fine. I just didn't try to kill myself.

So tomorrow, I'll go alittle farther and see how that feels. Thanks for the advice about food and taking it easy two days before. I think that will really help - I mean - I feel ridiculous worrying about such a short ride, but it is just because I've been away for 5 weeks.

I will heed your advice and I am sure I'll be fine. I don't even feel tired in my abs so I must be pretty healed up.

Thanks!!