Nothing like crossing (ahem climbing OUT OF) the Monocacy River valley a time or two to get your heart working. So let's do it FOUR times! The last two were close enough together to amount to one climb out of the valley. Rode for the first time on Sixes Road from Mumma Ford going north and found it to be a reasonable climb up and out of the valley on a quiet, narrow, un-striped road. The steady wind from the south on a warm summer day made the first 20 miles pretty easy; the ease of the return was dependent on whether the road was out in the open, or shaded, or in a stream valley. Struggled a bit with the last 5 or 6 miles as the combination of headwind and some climbing reduced my speed a bit, while my riding companion forged on. Rode most of that stretch alone. Usual problem with Mr Fast Twitch trying to train the body to do the slow twitch thing. Note to self: No more starting at Utica Park. Finishing there is a death march up a long grade on a busier-than-preferred road into a large, sunbaked parking lot. Certain companions like that start because of the available kybos but they can be dropped off there and we can meet up at the intersection of Ramsburg and Old Frederick. Or the bridge on Links Bridge Road.