My commute starts out in the suburbs. It takes me about 6 miles to get out of the 'burbs and to the frontage road. From the frontage road, it's 4ish miles to get to the start of the back road which then starts a beautiful 30 mile route through the hills. It's mostly soft climbing with a little rolling terrain, and then I hit a very steep descent, which is followed by more climbing, this time much steeper, and ending with a 4 mile descent at around a 13% grade. Then I ride 7 minutes through some more burbs, and then through downtown. 50 miles later, I get to work. The return trip is much easier, but its only a half hour shorter ride because of all the transfers I have to make on buses and BART trains.