Originally Posted by sch

A 4mi hill at 8mph takes 30min to go up, at 40mph it takes 6min to go down. THis ratio kills you when you are on something like the Blue Ridge parkway or approach roads to it. It would help if you and the wedgie riders are close enough that you can keep some of them in sight or else you will end up doing the hillier parts alone (if they aren't kind and wait). If the roadies go up 2-3mph faster than you, you will never see them after the first 2mi hill, or less. So depends on your tolerance for solitude and congruence with the roadies on the hills.
Steve