Climbed Wild Horse Valley Road - the second hardest climb in Napa county - today! I have been working my way up to the top over the past couple weeks and finally made it today, all the way, with only a couple of stops to catch my breath and get a drink. Strava classifies it as a Cat 2 and it's a 9+% grade...and brutal, with lots of switchbacks which are slightly annoying going up but terrifying going down because it's a one-lane road with almost no visibility and cars suddenly coming up around the corner. I did it on my less-favorite bike (the heavier, slower Specialized Dolce Sport) too!
I hated climbing but since I'm getting better at it, I don't hate it so much, I guess. Boyfriend and I have been commuting to work on the 50-lb tandem, 30 miles each way over a mountain (about 1700 feet of climbing) and a couple of weeks ago we did the MS Waves to Wine (also on the tandem). We did the full course - 104 miles on day 1, 72 on day 2, LOTS of climbing - and we kicked @ss on the second day, finishing in 5 and a half hours (with about 45 minutes of rest stops). I have gotten into amazing shape and I guess I'm not exactly a newbie anymore
2013 Volagi Viaje
2002 LeMond Tete de Course rebuild/"The Chimaera"
2012 Scott Contessa Foil with Dura-Ace
2011? budget "Takara Kabuto" Single Speed/Fixie "The Bumblebee"
1999 Santana Team Ti 700 tandem/"Silver Streak"