Originally Posted by alcjphil

Good for you to have taken up cycling and having enjoyed it, have stuck with it. However, given that you seem to have been doing most of your riding on smooth surfaces, the bike you chose was probably not the best one for your needs at the price you paid. Dual suspension mountain bikes are awful to ride on the road no matter how much they cost compared to non suspension bikes at the same price. However, nothing you can do about it now. When you climb hills, use your lowest gears and do not attempt to get out of the saddle, don't be tempted to use a higher gear and push harder. Even after only 4 months, the components of your bike are starting to wear out if you have been riding frequently. If this is your bike:
it was never designed for someone who rides frequently and for longer distances. Treat your bike gently until you can afford to buy a better one, you have obviously progressed beyond its design parameters.