When I first started to ride again hills would kill me.Now I look at them and see how long it will take me to go up the hills and I am pulling a BoB and have a full set of panniers as well.I am getting ready for my trip to Bangor Maine I plan on leaving on April 1 2011.So I look for hills to ride and help me get stronger.It is paying off a little but man your leg will start to burn like fire then they stop burning just as fast as they started.So hills can be a good thing.