Welcome to BF.
Someone recommended 28mm tires, but a bad choice for city riding, curb hopping, potholes, etc.
If the initial pedaling was sluggish you were in the wrong gear. If you want 'power in the mechanism' find an e-bike, they work great in city situations when the human power needs/wants augmentation.
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.