I sent you a personal message -- did you not get it? I live in Bremerton, right next to Silverdale (bought my new bike at Silverdale Cyclery in fact!). Hills are killing me too, and I would LOVE a local riding partner who wants to practice hills. I've met a few riding buddies here at TE, but so far my schedule has made it tough to coordinate. I'm in Florida now on holiday, but I think once the new year starts I'll have Saturday and/or Sunday mornings for local, hilly rides. Do you have an email address I can send contact info to?