Quote Originally Posted by Herakles View Post
Can't you just get on your average road bike and be able to cope with the hills or is the average bike ill equipped.
You can indeed
Depends on what you class as average. Most road bikies that ride a lot buy a lightweight road bike with 10speed gearing. ( Apart from Brett who rides a fixed and thats just an age thing).
If your doing lots of miles then your average bike becomes hard work. Weight, tyres and other things become issues.

Ive converted many a cyclist who has been struggling with a heavy bike with knobbly tyres on and have just about given up. They have a little go on my road bike and think God its a lot easier. In reality its not easy but for your general average cyclist who just wants to do a few miles at a steady pace it is.
You can now purchase a lightweight good quality roadbike fairly cheap.