I am not a climber by any means. I too have a Ruby Expert with a compact double. It has been a real confidence building experience. Suprisingly I have been getting better at climbing with the double. I'm not talking about climbing mountains, just really, really big hills.

Today I came up the back road to our house. It's a climb I NEVER thought I could do. Not only did I make it up the entire hill, I didn't stop, even when I got to the top. I totally floored my husband as I pulled into our driveway as he was backing the car out to come and get me. I didn't set any land speed records. Coming up the hill my speed was hovering around 5.something mph. But I did it!

Although the down side to this, as DH pointed out, now that I did it once, he won't have to come get me at the bottom of the hill any more!

So embrace the compact double. It may turn out to be your best friend. bikerHen