Welcome Boat Racer, I used to drive thru Gilroy fairly regularly on my way to the Sierras from Berzerkeley...
Love the smell there, and now I'm craving some pasta.
I ride Hixon fairly regularly, I just checked today and was happily surprised to see the flow trails are open. The single track is phenomenal there as well.
Decorah is all old school single track, most of it is excellent. Lots of ups and downs. Plan on feeling lost most of the day as there...
Once its gotten dirty, scratched and has lost the new bike smell it'll be OK. You won't worry bout it as much.
Most components can take much more abuse than one would think.
I'm all for lowering our foot print and taking better care of mother earth. I just don't think any of it will work on a bike until the parts get smaller, lighter and more efficient. Maybe your too young to remember what the first cell phones looked like - nothing like the communicators we...