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Assuming you're on 23mm tyres, 52x17 is over 80": no wonder you're struggling!
A 20t rear sprocket or a 44t chainring will make things much more pleasant.
That's not to say that you're wrong to think about gears for longer distances, especially if you're new to cycling.
But whether or not you buy a new bike, if you reduce the gearing of your current bike you'll find it much more usable.
Scilly.Suffolk
tdh
Completely new to cycling so please bear with me. A friend handed me down a single speed bike he had lying around which I now use to cycle to and from work, however the gear ratio is a 52/17 so it is pretty tough up hills.
I've really enjoyed cycling thus far and want to get a beginner proper road bike which will get me from point A to B, and be usable for longer commutes (20+ miles). I am looking for something with gears and STI-shifters. Nothing fancy and not picky on the brand or the weight, just something reliable. I've been looking on eBay and gumtree for a few months now and can't find anything so hoping I'll have more luck here!
I'm 5'8" so size about 53-54cm is perfect for me and I can pick up at any london underground station (I'm located in east London). Budget is preferably <£200.
Thanks!