Hey, girljen--

Is your to-work ride killing you, too, or just the back-home? In other words, I would expect the uphill ride to be challenging (especially if Wheat Ridge is in the mountains), but if the downhill ride is hurtin' too, well it might just be the bike. You might have a bike that doesn't suit you; maybe the frame is the wrong size, maybe it's heavy, maybe the seat isn't right for you or too high or too low, or the handlebars are in the wrong position. There are a lot of factors that help create a good ride. A three-mile downhill should not be hurtin', you know?

Stop in at your local bike shop and ask if someone there can help fit you on your bike. A change of a centimeter one way or the other will make a remarkable difference.