I managed a 1 hour ride yesterday after ten 5 year old princesses departed the birthday party, all in pink, taking their balloons with them, and leaving my little princess pouring over her hoard.
Speaking as someone for whom hills have always been a weak point - I was one of the hoard that walked up ditchling beacon - I managed to cycle up a hill I never really thought of as doable. The Stonehill Down hairpin on the Purbeck Ridge left me with 2 gears untouched, so I decided to climb the rest of Stonehill Down cross country (well a well surface ridgeway track). 100m climb over about 1km, most off road. That gave me the fun of a tarmac 20% descent. I didn't really want to get above 30mph (my old bike always put on a bit of wobble in these situations), but the brakes were very obliging. I decided then that my 40/16 gearing decision was right, I did not really feel a need to go on a higher gear to pedal faster down a 20% gradient
The 1.5 Tourguards seem ok for now, the proof will be the trip across the forest and heath tracks to work. I must say I am sceptical. They are however miles better than the 32mm Conti Top Tourers which were the biggest tyre I could fit on my old Holdsworth Boneshaker. I've already changed the saddle for my trusty B17 (which was my intention when buying the bike). It looks a little tired on the smart new bike: I might invest in a new one at some point.
I keep looking down to see if the front changer is shifting smoothly - then feeling a bit dumb, as it is a reflex I must do when changing gear. In fact, early on I tried to move my thumb above the twist shifter to try and find the more conventional one, but the thumb just shifted air.
The gear changes are instant. I have to say, I have almost no noise at all. The one I test rode, you could feel 7th in the pedals. Mine has a steady pur, and that is all.
