freako

Muscles develop a memory if the routine is the same, and yours is the same, 3km 2 times a week. When this memory develops you fatigue. The only way to get past that is as others have noted, ride more often and ride further. The easiest way to ride more is to increase your time to 4 or 5 times week then increase your distance by about 10% per week which is the slow start way but it does work.

And the age of your bike or it being a 6 speed is not relevant; many Europeans ride 3 speed and single speed bikes up and down mountains so a 6 speed is just fine for your purpose.

Clothes? You can ride wearing anything...except maybe a dress! If money is an issue go to Walmart and get Starter or StaDry athletic jerseys and pants (BUT, shorts you need to buy at a Bike Shop because their padded), Walmart sells warm outer wear as well, just go and look. If money is not an issue then I can't stress enough the value of wool as others have also said.

rcschafer

Off-topic: post some pics of your Peugeot in the Classic & Vintage forum, lots of Pug fans over there.

plutonium83

Once you learn the route, you'll find the right pace that will keep you from getting exhausted. I only commute about 2km a day, but half of it is up a 5-20% grade hill. Sometimes its nice to slow to below a normal pace just so that you can keep going.

YungBurke

also, as your milage increases, it is important to be eating well. I generally use a half-portion of whey protein after a hard ride and I find it improves my recovery and helps me to not gorge myself on junk later, thus resulting in leaner muscle and more power.

freako

Whey protein is a by product of cheese which some people are allergic to. In fact some who are not allergic normally to cheese find if they eat too much can experience stomach upset or flatulence, but otherwise for the stuff is harmless they think. Studies are still being conducted to find out if whey protein can cause kidney and/or liver damage, and if it can lead to Osteoporosis because protein can lead to a mineral imbalance effecting the bone mineral density. As with any product promising "miracles" do your research first and don't over indulge.

AndrewP

Knit sweaters which allow for air circulation are good for dealing with sweat. Dont wear too much - it doesnt matter If you are cold at the beginning of the ride as you will soon warm up.

dwilbur3

Remember that this is a 3 km commute. There's barely time to warm up.

colleen c

Thinking about this, fatigue in that short distant maybe normal for some individual. I for one, find myself sometime feel sluggish and worn out during my first initial 3km. I feel more energetic at the end of a 10 mile than I did the first two miles.

tjspiel

That is a good point, especially when it's cold out. At 3k I'm just starting to warm up.

luderart

Thanks! I raised the seat half a centimeter and it made a big difference. Also, on the way back it's all uphill (not that much) and before the final stretch there is a very steep uphill road which I used to bike. Today, being pragmatic, I stepped down and walked that part of the road. It made a marked difference in the ensuing fatigue I experienced.

Fremdchen

luderart,
I have a short ride. I often wear a thin, knit athletic top (turtleneck or t-shirt), with a cycling vest (Pearl Izumi brand) on top. I also have a wonderful jacket from The North Face, the "Swift Hybrid" jacket. It has different types of fabric on different body areas, to regulate your body temperature.

On such a short ride, your hands will be cold, and your underarms and back will be hot. Wear warm gloves, but lighter clothing on your body.

Doohickie

Here's another tip.... when going up a hill, leave it in a slightly higher gear and stand up on the pedals and "walk" up the hill. If you're in too low of a gear, you accelerate too quickly and start spinning too fast. In a slightly higher gear, you strike a balance where you just can pedal with a steady cadence while standing on the pedals.

Jude

Whoa, if Lebanon is anywhere near as mountainous as Israel and the West Bank, I give you mad props for biking at all there...although nothing could really be as bad as the WB.