I thrive on hills -- always have. At 145lbs and 5'8" I am neither big nor particularly strong, but I emphatically favor traditional wheel designs, with at least 32 spokes in a 3-cross pattern, for reliability and tuneability.
I am far more interested in how fast I can ascend than in how fast I can descend, so I use the brakes a lot and don't bother with any gearing above the mid-90s of gear inches (50/14, 46/13, etc.).
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069