Dear "M",
Your first statement reads that you are not a sewer. Immediately, my first thought was that someone is taking advantage of you with a difficult project. I vote for taking it to the cleaners or just return to the cyclist and simply tell him/her that you don't believe you have the skills to tackle such a job. Tell him/her that you want them to be happy with the results and that you are unsure of your skills to make them happy.
Incidentallly, I consider myself an experienced sewer and NO WAY would I accept this challenge.
Suzanne
PS: I love applique also.