I certainly got a LOT of practice on the club GT ride Saturday - the one that I got separated from and was lost for a time. (Grand Touring rides aren't marked). In that part of Indiana there is no flat ground, it is either up or down

One of the hills I found on my "detour" was a bit*h, it seemed like I was climbing forever - though I am sure it wasn't longer than 7 or 8 minutes - and then it got steeper for the last couple of hundred feet. At that point my speed was down between 2.9-3 mph and I could no longer hold anything remotely like a line.

The only way I could keep going was to weave back and forth in the lane and I was in the lowest gear I have. I got to thinking about a truck barreling up behind me on that narrow twisty road and chose to walk the remaining 100 feet or so. I am pleased that was the only time I had to walk in 3+ hours of riding - I don't care how slow I was going uphill most of that time.

My assumption is that this was a strength issue - the entire purpose for my going south to ride is to find my hill-climbing legs.

In this kind of situation, is this where standing would be helpful? I am NOT doing that yet... but we get stronger by staying in our saddle, yes?