before cycling?? I would've told you I was built for bearing many children and pulling the plow all day. Now: not a clue. No matter where you go in this town ya gotta climb so I just accept that. I do seem to climb faster than most women but not at some of the speeds ya'll are talking about. I sprint at the green light, to cross lanes of traffic, and sometimes just coz but I don't think of myself as a sprinter. I get bored on short rides just coz I don't feel like I"ve really ridden. I don't mind doing long rides and my avg on 1/2 and full centuries is about 15 mph. I guess I'm just an average all-around Jill!