Since I want to improve my climbing(go faster uphill than my usual crawl), that will be my goal. I will do that by doing hill work on 10+ % grade at least once a week and checking my time,etc. I will also use 18000' for my riding goal of 500 miles.
Wish me luck and perserverance. I really must be able to get better at these PA hills. I see men my age zooming past and feel like a wimp!