Remember to downshift before you absolutely have to.

I learned this mantra while bike-touring in Vermont about 20 years ago: Eat before you're hungry, drink before you're thirsty, shift before you have to. On that same tour, I remember riding for a while with a guy who was clearly suffering with the uphill effort, and I asked him why he didn't downshift. He said he was "saving" his granny gear. I asked him what for--I mean it's not like you'll use it up. I guess what he meant was that he was saving it until he really needed it, but trust me, he really needed it just then.

Keep the engine fueled and use those grannies when you have to. And....have fun! You'll be fine.