Nice bike!

Have patience and definitely put a personal plan together. Also, if you can find a group to ride with, that helps push you more than riding by yourself.

More than bike weight it is the engine that makes the speed. < sigh, I know>

I have two bikes, light roadie at 19 lbs and a custom, roadified MTB (drop bars, road tires) at 29 lbs. I just did a few commutes to work (30 mile round trips) and was faster by 15 minutes each way on the heavier bike. Why? I haven't ridden but a few rides all year, so I was not in great shape for the hilly ride. The SUB (as I call her, my sport utility bike) has more lower gears so I wasn't running out of leg on the long climbs.

Have fun on the new bike, that in itself is a boost to the psychie.