Thank you thank you for all the suggestions. To go through a bit

1. Why am I doing it? I'm not 100% sure. I think some combo of habbit, laziness, and fitness.
2. Why do I care if I enjoy cycling?Good challenge. I'd like to go further on my rides. I'd like to go faster, and it feels ineffienct
3. Is it the bike? Possibly, though I think I've done this for as long as I can remember including on my Trek DS3 which I've not ridden for a few years. It may be worth me playing around
4. Pedals? I don't use cleats and never had. Been tempted, but everyone I know who has them has fallen sometime, and I don't trust myself not to put my hand out when I fall (and break my writs again when I last fell over cycling).
5. Gear changes? Yes, I think I need to play around a bit more find a gear/cadence I'm comfortable in.
6. Forcing myself? Yeah. I think there's something to this. On a shallow uphill I do on the Bay Bridge for 2 miles, I go the 15 mins mostly without taking my foot off.
7. And General Fitness/Weight? Yes, absolutely know there is no substitute for that.
8. Being killed by my fellow cyclists? Yet another reason to solve this..