Well a little more info about me and the bike.It is a 7 speed free wheel and it has a Shimano LX crankset and I think it is a mountain bike model. My only other experience touring was about 8 years ago on an AIDS Vaccine Ride across Montana. It was fully supported and even though I had trained a lot of miles I had to walk the bike most of the long hills which caused ankle swelling and lots of pain.I rode all but 6 of the 540 miles in 7 days but I do not want to walk any miles on this tour.I only missed the 6 miles because I ran out of tubes and patches and it was over 100 degrees and I was not thinking clearly at that point.
I choose the 18 gear inches cause I have struggled with this bike up steep hills on early training rides so far this spring. The 100 gear inches was just a number.I have had the whole bike apart and new bearings and grease as I have a new neighbor who is an expert bike mechanic and really likes to help out and relaxes by working on bikes. Thanks for the responses so far. Feel free to ask more questions.
Again thanks for the responses as the more discussion that happens the more I think and learn.
JOHN