Anyone considering doing an organized event? Summer is cooling off and there are several organized events all across the country. It's a great way to motivate and give yourself a target to work towards. Most events are charity based and have a variety of mileage options usually ranging from 30 to 100+ miles.

I'm looking at doing the 26-mile version of the Tour de Phoenix in April. While that will be my first organized ride, I've done a fair bit of commuting to work by bicycle and by bicycle-on-bus in the past couple of years. I'm thinking that signing up for the event will be a huge motivator for sticking to a training regimen. This is the season for outdoor activity where I live.

I'm no racer, but am rather more in the "utility bicycling" category. I ride for a combination of reasons -- mostly fun, health, and economy, in about that order. But barring unforeseen circumstances I should be perfectly able finish the 26-mile ride in a respectable time. Will wait to decide about century rides after I've done this one.

The same organizers also usually offer much shorter fun rides, just a few miles, in conjunction with their bigger events, which sound like an enjoyable way to get involved, too.

Anybody else doing something similar?