The 'pleasure' of uphill road cycling
is the challenge of getting to the top
and proving to yourself that you still have the fitness and vitality
to achieve such an exhausting and physically strenuous goal.

I have a local hill I test myself with at the start of each summer.
So far I've not failed or died in the attempt.

Even this summer, despite gaining about 3 stone after being stuck in the house unwell for most of the last year or so,
i still summoned the bloody minded determination to get to the top..

Such an amazing sense of positive elation when I stood astride my bike
panting my lungs out and wiping the sweat off my face,
looking back down the hill toward the sea...

Still feeling the beneficial boost in motivation and morale !!!

..though because of my extra 42lbs of sedentary couch potato fat
I f@cked up the pedal bearings of my bike
and now need to get it repaired before it packs up completely...

though its still good for an hour a day cycling randomly around the local undulating hilly country roads
builing my strength back up in preperation
for getting back into regular serious gym training again..

Theres an even worse incline hill a few miles away,
but i know in my heart i'm still not up to coping with that one again yet,
i wont dare risk being that stupid with my blood pressure,
until i've lost a fair bit more surplus weight..