Gotta say, I was a bit pissed about how poorly this climbed, but I got used to it. Or maybe I just dont care, because it goes like whipped, CO2 powered, gnar down hills compared to the can-o-ale. Now rather then a fine line between plowing into a tree and going way to slow (as on the old frame), the bike lets you know when you're angering it by slowly loosing traction at the rear.