Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I'm new here and just getting into cycling and physical shape. I'm hoping to do a century but I don't know if that's in my stars this year. If I lived in NC where the weather is good most of the year I'd likely consider it. I spent a couple of months last year with my dad just outside of Asheville so I'm a little familiar with the area. My dad lived almost at the top of a fairly steep incline as well. In fact it was tough just to walk up it. I can only imagine what you must have faced.

Seriously, you have just become one of those who inspires others to continue on. Pressing through the challenges you had and succeeding certainly gives me encouragement to continue on.