Your in for some hilly terrain. Just keep riding or spinning over the winter, need not be long - an hour or two at a time. When you can get out again in the spring put a 1000 to 1400' climb into your rides. As I recall, in PA the hills aren't incredibly long but they can be very steep. Get ready for that. The other thing I would consider - particularly since you will be touring, a triple with a very low end cassett. 10-wheels has a friggin pie plate on the back of his bike. Don't worry about being embarressed about getting to the top, just get there at your own pace. Sounds fun.