Originally Posted by
HardyWeinberg
Yeah I don't usually shift up on my commute until around mile 4.
One thing you could do to make the most of your lungs is ride in the lowest gear you can stand and pedal as much as it takes to get a speed you can tolerate. Over time you will build amazing lung capacity and eventually find that you can turn much higher gears at the same rpms.
I agree that new gear won't get you to your office meaningfully quicker. Your 35mm tires might get you there meaningfully quicker over the long run if you have fewer stops to fix flats.
These days I can usually stay within the 4-5 lowest gears pretty comfortably. And especially when riding home after work, it feels great pumping on the pedals and breathing. I find that once I get into a good stride and cadence, I can breathe deep pretty deep breaths without feeling winded - that's the best. But I suppose it's at those times that I shouldn't get complacent and should see if I can push the envelope further, in the name of fitness haha.