I have made certain modifications to the bike to accommodate the days and weeks on the road. A cushier saddle to ease the pain of 'my' saddle. I tried replacing the stock wheels with ones that would help me over the steep mountain passes I will encounter. I used these new wheels to climb to Dardanelle on route 108 last Sunday (June 5), just short of the Sonora pass. Better climbing torque, but the gears would skip/jump occasionally, interupting my momentum. So I'm going with the stock wheels (Cane Creeks). That don't have the gear ratio I'd like, but they're light and have proven their durability over the years... in the mountains and on the flats.

And shoes. I've always ridden road bikes with clipless pedals and road shoes. Great for riding, but not for walking. So I've to an MTB style of road shoes to be able to ride and walk proficiently.