Did a ten mile loop including my challenging hill at half my load weight. I didn't need to stand, I never dropped off the 2nd gear, and it felt good (not easy, but so much better.) On my 7100 I felt like I got so slow that I was tipping, on this one I felt that as long as I kept moving the pedals I'd get there. Apparently I'm using different muscles, since I'm sorer than usual, but my knees feel great! When I do stand on this bike (mostly at light changes) my torso is over the handlebars, rather than my hips.