Just did 6-Gaps on a '07 Tricross sport triple. 135 miles, 15,000 ft climbing across 6 mountains. granted, I put my race-x-lites and pr2 tires on it, but the stock stuff would have made the trip too.
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4101379
Don't be afraid that its not a "real" road bike. Although the gears are widely spaced, you'll have all the gears you need in a $1000 bike. It's all the road bike you really need.