I'd say, it feels like 5th gear+ in the beginning, Steve. No hills here that I would call painful for the legs.
@undergeared
"A little too low", I know that feeling. My other bike which I use for a weeklong bicycle trips has 7 gears and it feels just right in 6-7th gear with luggage at average 21 km/h, but without luggage, some gears seem to be missing. At 25+ km/h you start feeling like a hamster because of the high pedal frequency. That is where my idea for a second bike for 25+ km/h speed originated. Other option would have been to buy a new bike with more gears.
@fitness
Steve, sure you could. If you are feeling unfit right now, and I am certain, that you are just being polite again by putting your light under a bushel, keep in mind, that like it is with all sports, with a bit of regular sport you feel an improved fitness almost immediately after only a short period of time. You could do some long rides, 4-5 hours, at least long enough so that you get that calm and relaxed feeling.
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