I think your progess sounds just great, tjodit. The very fact that you are improving is positive!

I think Sadie Kate said it all when you look at your terrain and the kind of riding you do. Your level is improving. You're (likely) doing similar types of rides and you're getting better!

I'm surprising myself this week. It'll be my first week (I hope) that I'll have commuted every day. I've done 46 miles so far this week, and while that doesn't sound like a whole lot to some, my ride home is pretty much all uphill. I don't know what the actual grade is, but my kreb's map lists my last 1 mile at a 9% grade or higher. When I first started doing that I had to stop 4 times to catch my breath and I had to walk part of it! Now I can stay on my bike and stop just once to catch my breath. I'm thinking that stop is partly mental. Once I can get past that, "I've just got to stop," then I should be able to conquer that hill.

I got my first bike thanksgiving weekend 05. I got my second bike Feb 25th of this yr.

If you are somewhat athletic to begin with, once you got your cycling muscles, some people could probably do longer rides right off the bat. It depends some on your body type, muscle composition...there are just a lot of variables. Everyone is different. I hiked to the top of mt. diablo (3000 or so elevation climb) last fall with no problems, and yet I couldn't ride my bike all of the way home...So it just goes to show you that it just depends.