Originally Posted by The Octopus

Alright, here's some advice on gearing. Saved the best for last. If your hilly ride is of any length at all, you want something that sucks for both climbing and descending. Otherwise, you'll soon be in trouble on one or the other. You want Goldilock's porridge. My general climbing gear is 72". If I'm riding hard, I can crank that up to 80" (and I've done 84" though some big hills on long rides) in all but the silliest terrain (none of which is found in Florida). Gear selection is all about experimentation, especially in hilly terrain. If you have a brake, err on the low side. Better to pull the plug on a descent than to have to walk up a hill, tweak your knees, cramp, or blow up.