Thank you for starting this thread, OP!

This is my first year to join the local race team in my ripe 1/2 century age, and I can hold on, on the flats, but as soon as the road climbs, I get dropped... I live in a VERY FLAT as a PANCAKE area, and it's 25 miles to ride to get to some hills.

But I just gotta go and ride them! I'm in my lowest gear possible just getting up, and slow as molasses, but then again, a couple of years ago, I wouldn't have made it up at all!

Thanks for all the experience and advice shared so far!