Originally Posted by
MRT2
There is good advice in this thread. Martinus,Tom Cat Ford, and xoxoxolive all make valid points. It wasn't until I did some time on an indoor trainer that I realized I was probably not pushing a high enough cadence generally. On the other hand, Martinus and xoxoxoLive do seem to have a point that in an effort to make it easier for an out of shape person to climb using the middle chainring, the bike companies are actually making their hybrids less enjoyable to ride.
One thing I can admit is that I need more riding time. This wil make me more efficient with gear selection as well as train my body to sustain various cadences that are currently uncomfortable. As far as beng in shape goes, I'm in the military, so the cardiovascular aspect is covered. I don't get winded per se. I do however annihilate my quads especially just above the knee at times.