You've gotten some great responses so far. I, too, am an experienced cyclist who will add only a couple of points:

1. Gloves - I often have the same issue with road gloves. I either have to wear long-fingered gloves (too hot in summer) or none at all. This took some getting used to, but I now rarely wear the road gloves for the same reasons that you mentioned.

2. Sore feet - this could be caused by a number of different issues, but for me, is usually exacerbated when I am pedaling pointing my toes. Lowering my saddle so that I can get good pedal rotation with a FLAT foot usually does the trick. A friend of mine just this week spent a fortune trying to fix sore feet - new shoes, new pedals and believe it or not, new saddle. Apparently, if your saddle is not the right support, your feet end up supporting your weight, and bearing the brunt of the force when you are riding.

Great work on the increased distance, and the hill! When you are finally able to ride all the way up, several times in a row, you will remember back to where you started with fond memories.

Ride safe!

SheFly