How's your technique? As well as using the gears, are you making sure you're using as much of the full circle of the pedal stroke to move you forward, or are you giving in to the temptation to push dowh, push down? Even if you don't have clipless pedals, you can get a lot more power (and it's smoother, and uses more and different muscles, and just looks better :-)) with rounder strokes. It uses a little more energy for me but it helped me immensely.

However, when I was in KY for the Horsey Hundred, I was loathing the hills sunday and re-thinking taking that bike on my long tour - until I remembered that I loathe most things when it's hot, which it was (90's). I was hydrated, well fed... but this engine was made for cool conditions.

Oh, and on July 1, *all* club rides I've ever heard of kick up a level and a half.