Hey, Yellow, since when is standing on the hills backing off! You're a heck of a hill climber but you may need to force yourself to keep your butt on the saddle and twiddle. I know, I know, it is so fun to stomp over those hills but you got some steep little grades up there. I watched you crank into the distance so you have a witness here. Go get a bigger cassette and learn to spin up those hills. Lower the gears and up the cadence! You should see the gearing most people ride in the hills (more like mine); your group is on the extreme end with those tiny gears. Don't use their gearing or speed as the standard . Save the stomping over the gears for later in the season. Come down to Diablo and see what those girls ride. Matter of fact, you can probably see them this Sunday.

Said in sympathy for your pain and your desire to pound those foothills into submission and my wish that I could ride up those hills like that .

SK