I finally figured out why my commute home always felt harder, and it was a simple fix
For months, I'd get to work feeling great but the ride back was a real drag. I just thought I was tired from the day. Last week, I checked my tire pressure for the first time in ages. The back tire was at 35 psi, but the front was only 20. I pump them both to 65 now, and it's like riding a whole different bike. The rolling resistance was killing me. Anyone else had a basic maintenance thing they ignored that made a huge difference?
Oh yeah, low pressure wearing out tread faster is DEFINITELY one of life's little joys. Like "hey, your tire's slowly dying AND making you pedal harder, SURPRISE!