Just wanted to second the benefit of core work. When I was going through my "scaredycat" month, I kept at my ab work pretty diligently, and as SOMETHING is really helping me on the hills these days, I'm guessing it's the stronger core. My first century is Oct 7 and I'm using a training schedule that Nancy posted. Good luck to all of us headed for that first century - October is going to be a PROUD month for TE new riders!