Just be sure to test ride it before you take your big ride. I have a rule for myself not to make any changes to the bike before an important ride. After I make changes, I take it around the block. Then I take it for a one-mile loop. I take progressively longer trips and make small adjustments as necessary.

Nowadays, people consider it necessary to pedal up all hills. It wasn't always like this. Still, I managed to pedal up all hills I encountered with a low gear of about 40 inches. Nowadays, I have lower gears, and I use them because they're there.

The last couple of weeks, I'm riding a fixed gear bike, because it's fun. It has a 74-inch gear. I have to walk up a few steep climbs, but I'm able to pedal up most hills. This was my ride into work today on my fixed gear bike. The hills aren't tall, but they're steep.