Hi Julian no, the type of bike you ride or clothe you wear don't matter. The better bike and more appropriate cycling clothes you have though, the more comfortable you'll be. On average our riders ride at about 14 mph on the road, not including rest stops, but many are also slower than this. The Tri-State Tour is a ride, not a race. We have strict no man left behind policy also, so you won't need to worry about being fast enough or getting left behind. The goal of most riders is just to make it the whole way! If you have any more questions please don't hesitate to let me know, we'd love to have you participate! Thanks! Rob Layton, Ride Director