there's a lot of articles out right now that indicate that a diet fairly high in dairy actually helps us lose fat. apparently the calcium does some magic. must be a similar magic to how it helps muscles heal and recover from strenuous exercise!! maybe your low-dairy diet could increase to a medium-dairy diet??

also, you said your bike is a double. by this do you mean you have only 2 chain rigs in the front? with your worries about climbing have you thought about changing to a 3 chain ring set-up? I'm not sure how feasible that is with your bike, but, when the going gets tough, more gears to drop down to is never a bad thing!! it's not like your plan is a race!!

I'm sure you'll do fine, Audio, just stay in the moment and have FUN!!

Namaste,
~T~