1) Pack for the trip you want to go on. If you like camping, pack a lot of camping gear. If you like cycling, pack less camping gear and the cycling part will be more fun.
2) All the clothing you pack should be able to be worn all at once as part of a coordinated layering system.
3) It's possible to enjoy a bike tour without cooking.
4) Trust the random kindness of strangers.
I was already a decent mechanic, knew how to read a map, had cycled a lot, and had camped a lot before my first tour. Make sure all those skills are in your toolbox.