What a wonderful learning experience! The one and only way to see if what you are doing to prepare is working is to get out there and do it! For my 1st test run I rode from my house to Stephen F. Austin state park close to Sealy Texas.
It was an easier route with lots of return options in case things didn't go well with my fitness. The route took me southwest along country roads and dirt roads. Unfortunately, an 8 mile section was well maintained by vicious cyclist chasing mad dogs! I must admit pumping your legs to a 28 MPH sprint on a 50 pound mountain bike is no challenge I want to attempt while being chased. I named this section of the ride doggon alley. Sort of like Harry Potter's diagon alley without the magic. Instead you have huge burly German Shepherds filling you with fear you never knew you could experience. I must have been chased 15 times. In addition the wind was blowing at a steady 12 -20 mph north. In my face the whole ride. I still made exceptional time. I was so proud to arrive at the park around 4:30.
Sadly my elation was replace with devastation when I realized I must have dropped my wallet. I had some cash so I secured myself a campsite. I must have dropped it at one of the stops I made to check GPS on my phone. Fear filled me again as I turned around and headed backwards on my route. Learning a valuable lesson. Hide your wallet in your gear bags!! As I travelled backwards I was quickly approaching doggon alley. I was going to have to ride back threw this dog pile. Heartbroken... 60+ miles in I had to run from three clusters of rapid furry fangs. To my great joy only 9 miles back I find my wallet. Praising God I secure it in my frame bag and route an alternate way back. There was no way I was going to run from those dogs again!
The Sun was going down fast at this point. I had to get motivated. The alternate route was an addition 6 miles but it was worth having to ride 14 miles back without being attacked by angry dogs. This route was a lot nicer too. It had rolling hills and beautiful farms.
I made it all the way to a gas station just outside of sealy before I had to stop and strap my lights on. I found a nice little local grill and ordered me a steak and a baked potato! Yeah yummy gluten free food.
After I stuffed my face I rode back to camp. Total Miles for the day was 83 miles. A lot more than I had planned to do on my 1st big loaded ride.
Sleeping in my Bivy sack for the 1st time wasn't so bad. I am glad I picked out a bivy with a canopy! I could get inside and lay up and read a bit. The Big Angus air mat was a pain in the butt to air up. After having rode my bike all day pushing a bunch of air into a mattress wasn't fun. I also had to blow up my mattress twice during the night to keep it full. My thoughts were definitely towards getting a new one when I got home. My sleeping bag was almost too warm but way better than being cold. I also didn't realize my bivy didn't come with steaks to nail it down with until my trip. I learned that when I got home I would order me a new sleeping mat and sleeping bag. Ones that compress to a smaller size and an air mat that requires less effort to air up.
In the morning I rose to a new day feeling not too sore and ready to get back on the road. I packed up all of my gear and rode home a much quicker way. Just about 40 miles back. I rode into a town east of Sealy called Pattison. There was a little dinner here that I got some breakfast at. A vegetable omelet with extra vegetables. My ride back from Pattison to Cypress, TX was a wind powered tail wind almost the whole way. There was a 9 mile section with a stout side wind that made for a tough pedal and a lot of mental chanting. The best part of the ride was I didn't get chased by any dogs! I arrived home safely and in one piece. The overall ride was enjoyable and a big eyeopener!
Since my ride I have purchased the following new pieces of gear:
1: Dog Spray -
Halt
2: New Sleeping Bag :
mountain hardwear ultralamina 32
3: New Air Mat:
Therm-a-Rest Neo Air
4: Rain Jacket:
North Face Stormy Trail Jacket
5: Warm jacket:
mountain-hardwear-thermostatic-jacket
6: Stuff Sacs:
Sea To Summit Mini (For all of my tools) It was frustrating having things piled. I needed to be able to get things out with creating a disaster.
7: Alternate Water Carry:
Platypus
With these changes I was able to load my bike tonight for my Tues - Weds overnight ride this next week with about 5 litters of leftover space for my clothes!!! I am still considering a larger frame bag. I am more than likely going to have to purchase one. I still need a bit of space for my cold weather gear and some extra comforts.
This week I will be riding to huntsville state park with my loaded bike.
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/366175703
Time is rolling by and narrowing the days to my depart quicker than I can mentally grasp! The miles are ever increasing and the recovery from my jaunts is taking its toll. The past two weeks I did two overnight trips. March 4 - 5th I rode from my house in Cypress to Montgomery. After Houston got hit with ice. I am not joking around. We actually got some ice: 
The ride was pleasant. I only had to re-route once because of the ice. A tree had fallen and blocked a section with crews working on dropped power lines. The hardest part of the ride was the cold and wet. My rain pants and cold weather gear were perfect. My new rain jacket was perfect too. I stayed warm and dry and no real issue. I had my new sleeping bag and mat with me be but opted for the comforts of a cabin instead of freezing. I really could not risk getting sick and loosing my quick turn training ride. 
