Originally Posted by JavaMan
After 2 months of 5-7 hours per week, I would suggest forgetting about that hill for another month and focus on your aerobic capacity. The hill isn't going anywhere.
Thanks for the terrific replies. I particularly appreciate the info on gearing; it's a subject on which I've been confused for a while. But I opine that Java Man may be right; when I run out of steam on that hill, or any other, I don't feel that I'm mashing a gear at all. I just "can't go on", either as a failure of will, or aerobic capacity, or both. God, I hope this doesn't choke off the thread because I'm learning so much. What a terrific forum.