I'm 70 inches and 165, 60 years old, larger framed using the "do your fingers touch when wrapped around your wrist" determination. Climbing is easier at 165 that it was at 200 but I'm sure conditioning played a role. Also, I climb differently from virtually everyone I ride with. As long as you don't compromise the "engine" (loose muscle), a lower weight is easier to drag up a hill.

When I was dropping weight on the FX, I used the 26 chainwheel initially and a large rear cog and developed my spin going up hills, didn't worry about speed at first, just maintaining a good cadence without running out of breath (my version of max heart rate determination - if I can talk, I'm not at it yet).

I try to stay > 100, 110 rpm cadence ideally, going up hills, 95-105 on the flats. I don't stand up, feel off balance if I do. I use a compact crank and 12-25 cassette. 34/21,23,25 works really well on hills for me.

OP, you hit it on the nose when you said your body wants to be 190. Bodies have a way of doing this.

Mine seems to have reset at 165 (down from 235 when I started riding for real in 2005, one year to drop to 165). I've stayed within five lbs of that figure since, including 8 weeks last summer letting a broken clavicle heal. I don't diet or work out other than riding and walking but follow a "eat reasonably" plan.

Last fall I did diet a bit and really trained hard, I was curious to see what my Met Life table ideal weight of 155 would do. I felt awful at that weight. No energy reserves, bonked just thinking about it, so I let things go back to 165 over last winter, feel fine at that weight. Met Life tables have been heavily criticized as undershooting proper weights, particularly for taller, athletic, big framed (fingers around the wrist don't touch) individuals. According to Met Life stuff, I would still be okay at 135 or so. Right, can you say anorexic?

I'd not worry too much about "forcing" more weight off but would work on a more efficient spin, and bring enough gears for the ride in question. The muscles used in spinning burn quickly replenished fatty "fuel". Muscles used in pounding in a higher gear using a lot of "power" burn glycogen, most fit folks have about 2000 calories on board at any time, when it's gone, it takes a while to replenish, according to what I read. There are lots of articles out there about using a candles metaphor for burning up calorie reserves.

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cm...?articleid=433 is a good one. I love this quote from the article "In my experience, the only people who attach sexual competency issues to the gearing on their bike are folks who don’t climb."

Have a great day,

Bill