Need Advice on routes

[andtckrtoo]

I'm contemplating two different 50/60 mile routes on Saturday. One is fairly flat with some rolling hills and a couple of climbs, but nothing too wild - it's 62 miles.

The other is pretty much the opposite, but with a big climb at the beginning (straight up a mountain - 6 miles - not tough, but tedious), then over some rolling hills, then a fairly steep and long decent. Much more technically challenging (this one is 52 miles).

I know I can do either, but the clincher is that I am doing a 30 miler along pretty much the same path as the first route on Sunday with a friend with whom I am matched pretty well, but she does not like that kind of distance or hills. I ride with her every Sunday, but my DH is out of town Saturday and we usually hike - so I get a chance to be on my bike twice this weekend!

Either ride is very nice - which would you do?

[maillotpois]

I would do the harder shorter one.

[arielmoon]

I agree. The second shorter one will give you a change of scenery.

[andtckrtoo]

Yeah, that makes sense, and I do want to do more hills. Flat and long gets boring after a while...

Thanks for helping make up my mind.