you'd be surprised how quickly you get used to cycling hills, if you have a suitable bike. mine is a commuter bike so thin tyres and a bit of a hard ride but very fast and easy on the roads. biggest problem for me is definitely traffic. i cycle 10km each day up and down something like anderson drive (6 lanes and no divider) and some drivers are good but some are shocking. a few times i've almost been clipped by wing mirrors, and many times a car will overtake only to slow down and pull right in front of me. i think to be a safe cyclist though you have to be assertive and demonstrate your legal right to usage of the road. i have kicked loads of cars, not for the purpose of being aggressive but to alert the driver that i was there - hopefully next time they will learn to be more aware of other road users. i also wear bike lights whenever the lighting is anything other than very bright. if it is raining i always have my lights on. visibility helps. the number of people talking on mobiles whilst driving here is shocking too and is usually what causes me most problems. we are luckier in canada because pedestrian has right of way, the motor vehicle has least rights of all on the road. am moving to oz later this year though and situation will be more like the uk, i.e. cyclists beware! in vancouver on the last friday of each month they have an event called 'critical mass' where thousands of cyclists take to the roads of the city and take over. talk about cycle pride! wish more places were as cycle friendly.