Yesterday's ride home was a good workout. I took the 'safer' but harder route to the East side of the valley, involving a gradual grade that builds and steepens over 1/2 mile to an 18% kicker for perhaps 100 vertical feet, followed by a 10%-12% steady grade for another 1/2 mile, along the southern border of the University of Utah.
This particular route allows me to cross a particularly busy 2-way street (1300 East for those who know the Salt Lake Valley) at a light, rather than playing 'frogger' further south. The traffic on this road has become unbearable in the evening rush hour since school started.
I rode the entire West to East cruise and hillclimb with a fellow commuter that I've encountered a number of times. The conversation was very pleasant until the 18% kicker made conversation --ummm-- difficult.

The ride in this morning was uneventful and pleasant, once I pulled myself out of the groggy morning bleary-eyed state.