I went back out to Antietam National Battlefield Park to repeat the hill practice route I did on Monday. It was noticeably easier today Of course, the fact that it was less than 90 degrees and my brain wasn't broiling in my helmet probably contributed to that. Regardless, I did the full loop of 13 miles (yeah, it's a short one but, remember, I'm still a hill slug wanna-be). I had to smile as I made it up the "Jesus" hill without cursing , and I also made it up another hill that almost made me throw up the first time I tried to ride it last year.

Then, on the way home, I stopped at one of the many LBS's in Frederick, MD, and test rode both a Bianchi Axis (a 2006 model, I think) and a 2007 Kona Jake the Snake. Man, am I in love with Shimano 105 shifters now (currently have Sora's).