Seriously!!! Go'in riding

Just reading my brothers post on our upcoming ride, in six months, is getting me ramped up and ready to put air in my tires. It sucks that it is five degrees outside...spin glass will do for now. Doug has some very good points, this year does need to be a bit different on the social side. For me, the first year was difficult as I was I bit uncertain about making the next day and then the next day and so on. I know now that I am fit and can make the trip so it's time to loosen up a bit and have some fun. I am hoping this years route is not quite so mind numbing as Route 50 across Nevada. The mountains this year should be very nice to ride, tough, but scenic. I can't wait. I too am setting a target weight for the ride of 180 from my current 190, or so, and 1,200 training miles...did 1,004 last year.