Ciao, I am an avid rider, but mostly a weekend warrior and I would not consider myself particularly gifted on hills. I used to hate hills but have only recently started getting better at them since I am currently training for a rolling terrain, with several steep hills, 4 day/300 mile ride next month. I am mid-40's, so no spring chicken, medium boned and average build. I don't have one of those scrawny, feather-weight, fly-up-the-mountain bodies. I usually grind out hills at my own humble pace.