"but once you get on top of that, there's just two sections of (I believe) 15% or so for a few hundred yards that just crush your soul"
Back in the late 80s, there was a dog that lived across the street right where you're talking about. Just when you were wondering if you were gonna pull it off (the climb), this curr would charging out of his yard and guys would just freak. This would of course give the stuggling cyclinst an added pop of adreneline, which if I remember correctly, was sorely needed right about that point of the climb.