Whoa my thread took on a life of it's own! Hopefully it will help others as well. I still haven't taken my Cannondale in, in fact the poor thing hasn't seen any miles since Fort Davis. That being said I think the Cali girls are more on the mark with what I am thinking. Spinning as long as possible, saving the knees (I have some issues with them) and long distances.

I am going to have to make a choice on what I want to do. Many of my rides locally do not require such gearing but I don't want to stay local. I sure as heck want to make it up the .5 mile, 17% grade suffer fest known as Jester Blvd. I probably won't go to anything drastic (just what my derailers will allow), since I am making it up most climbs but I haven't talked to the LBS yet.

I like climbing rides, I just wasn't born a mountain goat.