Is there a Hill Slope Preference?

[witeowl]

Sometimes I wonder if it's the way my brain and eyes are perceiving the hill. If I can see that it's a big hill, then I expect it to be harder and I gear down and relax and try to spin. I have pretty decent stamina on longer steeper hills, although I'm really slow. But on a false flat or a milder grade, sometimes I feel like I'm going to die. Maybe my brain isn't recognizing the hill because I can't really see it? And as a result I'm trying to ride it like it was flat? I don't know, but sometimes a lesser grade hill kills me more than a steep hill. I agree that it seems counter-intuitive.

This is actually what I suspect for myself. If it's what I call a "hidden hill" (your false flat) or even something I recognize as a slow slope, I push myself too hard, thinking that I should be able to do better. If it's a hill I know will hurt, I'm much more forgiving, and that makes it (almost) easier.

Footnote: I'm still looking for that "downhill both ways" route the locals keep talking about.