My 12 year old daughter can beat me up the hill now in Prospect Park. In fact, she beats almost everyone up the hill now in the park. It finally clicked with her that she has all these gears on her 27 speed road bike (pun intended). And when she gets to the top she isn't winded like I am. Her bike is a Specialized Dolce Vita road bike with 105 9speed and a triple in a 44cm frame. The frame is tiny, but it has 700c wheels.
She says she took it up between 17 and 19mph the last time. I've done it faster in a burst, but I tried today and didn't make it when I pushed 20. The hill isn't long or steep, just longer than you think it will be, and I've been riding this damn hill for almost 50 years. It separates the real racers from the wannabees during the early morning races but it isn't like climbing the alps.