Maybe this is just a goofy idea and I shouldn't be bike commuting. I keep looking at the road profile...this isn't my biggest elevation change by any stretch, and there are other sections that are just as hilly. At this juncture, for me, it is find something that works or quit biking all together (I can't squeeze any more time out of my schedule to bike other than a little every other weekend and my commute). I thought weight and bike structure might be the issue since I can do this hill on my roommates bike (a cheap schwwinn that I hate because it is in constant need of fixing.) The only real obvious difference between my bike and my roommate's is weight and shape...when I ride hers I can stand comfortably, when I ride mine, if I stand, I'm at a very awkward angle. This bike is a 15', what I am test riding are 19' and I'm not knowledgable enough to know if that is the difference, or if the upright seated style of the bike is making the difference. .

I am not disagreeing that my fitness level isn't up to snuff, however, I am also not sure how to improve that other than to keep working on it (I ride 3x/wk minimum, run 3x a week for 4-12 miles, and swim 2x a week), but I've been making this same route for two years, and I am not sure what else to do to improve this hill and I can honestly say I haven't had any improvement, and I have (on early weekend mornings) kept on it till the bike is tipping under me. I am open for advice. I can make it on my roommate's bike. Part of the reason I want to commute more is to improve my fitness, particularly since med school will continue to eat more and more of my time. I'd rather get the activity in while adding a little time to my commute then try to figure out how else to squeeze it in (I have to scale back on running and swimming during midterms, finals, and clinicals). I have never had a flat on this bike. I have 'changed' both tubes on it for practice. If there is anything in the tubes, I have never seen it. I will say it's very frustrating to hit the same hill again and again and not be able to make it and it does make me want to throw in the towel, because I did assume it would get better with time. There is a way around it, but it adds 2 miles to the commute, all as heavy traffic wise.

I did not weigh this bike pre-accessories. I do have the racks and fenders on it. I am not sure how it would help my commute to purchase another bike and not be able to commute with it. The reality is I'm never going to have a commute in the next two years that doesn't require carrying at least a text book or two, some notebooks, a laptop, and lunch. While I am lucky that the hill climb is on my way home, that is enough dis-incentive on days where the late afternoon temps are over 100F and the humidity is thick enough to feel like I just came out of a swimming pool.