Top 8 Reasons Why Your Bike Is Too Hard to Pedal

If your bike is really hard to pedal, and it feels like you’re pedaling at full effort but barely moving, even on flat ground or downhill, something is clearly wrong. A properly functioning bicycle should roll easily. When it doesn’t, mechanical resistance is stealing your energy.

The good news is that most of the causes of bikes becoming too hard to pedal are fixable. Some you can fix by yourself, and for the more complicated ones, you may need to visit the bike repair shop. Once you can detect the problem, fixing it should be easy. 

Top 8 Reasons Why a Bike Might Be Too Hard To Pedal

1. The Tires are underinflated.

Underinflated tires are, by far, the most common reason for a bike being too hard to pedal.  In fact, if your bike feels“dead,” slow to accelerate, heavy, and especially harder to pedal on smooth pavement, the tires are very likely underinflated.

This happens because tires naturally lose air over time. Many people unknowingly ride well below recommended tire pressure levels.

How to fix it

• Inflate tires to the PSI listed on the sidewall
• Check pressure weekly

When you notice your bike getting harder to pedal, always check the tire pressure. Even slightly low tire pressure creates huge rolling resistance and will make your bike feel slow everywhere, including downhill. 

This is why learning how to pump your bike tire is a must. Low tire pressure is the simplest fix with the biggest payoff.

2. The Brakes Are Rubbing (Including Frame Flex Under Load)

If your bike is really hard to pedal, and you keep hearing a scraping noise when pedaling, especially when climbing or standing up, it is very likely because the brakes are rubbing.
The brake calipers may be misaligned, or the frame flexes slightly under pedaling force, causing contact.

How to fix it

• Recenter brake calipers
• Check pad clearance
• Upgrade worn brake components if needed

This is one of the most common and overlooked causes of a bike being too hard to pedal. Misaligned pads, sticky calipers, or light frame flex cause constant drag that many riders don’t notice until it’s fixed. 

Related: How to fix brakes on a bicycle.

3. Hub and Bottom Bracket Bearings Need Greasing

Resistance feels gradual and inconsistent rather than sudden. Old grease dries out, increasing friction inside rotating parts.

How to fix it

• Disassemble, clean, and regrease bearings
• Replace seals if damaged
  Routine maintenance prevents this entirely.

Old or contaminated grease increases friction gradually, making the bike feel heavier over time and, therefore, harder to pedal.

4.  The Wheel Bearings Are Too Tight

If riding your bike feels sluggish, and coasting distance is short, there is a very high chance that your wheel bearings are too tight. 

You can confirm this by taking the bike off the ground and spinning the wheels: if they stop quickly instead of spinning freely and coming to a slow stop, the wheel bearings are too tight.

How to fix it

Wheel bearings can be overtightened during assembly or a repair. In some cases, poorly adjusted cone nuts compress the bearings too much. Take the following steps to fix this problem:

• Loosen the axle cones slightly
• Ensure smooth rotation without side-to-side play

This often happens after DIY repairs or shop adjustments are done too aggressively. If you are unsure, a bike shop can adjust this quickly.

5. The Bottom Bracket Bearings Are Too Tight

If pedalling is hard to the extent that the resistance doesn't change with gears, then the bottom bracket bearings may be too tight. To test this, remove the chain and try to pedal again. If the pedal still feels stiff, the bottom bearings are likely too tight
Overtightened bottom brackets or improperly installed cartridge units restrict rotation at the crank.

How to fix it

• Check crank spin with the chain off
• Adjust or replace the bottom bracket

This is usually best handled by a mechanic unless you have the right tools. It is less common than wheel bearings, but very noticeable once it happens.

6. The Wheels Are Out of True

Wheels that are not true will keep wobbling side to side or rub intermittently against the brake pads or frame, which makes pedaling your bike really hard.
This mostly happens when the wheels are knocked out of alignment: you hit potholes, curbs, or ride with loose spokes.

How to fix it

• For minor wobbles, wheel truing at a bike shop will fix it.
• For severe bends, you might need a complete wheel replacement

Untrue wheels create constant drag, even if it’s subtle, and this will make your bike really hard to pedal.

7.  The Wheels Are Misaligned in the Frame

Improper wheel installation, bent dropouts, or frame damage can throw alignment off, which will make your bike really hard to pedal. When this happens, the bike pulls slightly to one side, or the tire appears closer to one chainstay than the other.

How to fix it

• Reinstall the wheel properly
• Check frame alignment at a shop

Misalignment increases friction and also causes your tire to wear out faster. It is a problem that should be detected and sorted ASAP.  

8. Worn Bearings, Cups, or Cones

If, in addition to your bike being really hard to pedal, you notice any grinding, clicking, or roughness when pedaling or spinning wheels, the bearings, cups, or cones might be totally worn out. 

Worn bearings, cups, and cones happen when the bearings wear down over time, which is what happens if they go too long without regular maintenance.

How to fix it

• Replace worn bearings
• Replace damaged cups or cones
  Once pitting occurs, lubrication alone won’t fix it.

This is usually a problem on older bikes or those with high mileage and little maintenance.

When Hard Pedaling Means It’s Time to Change the Bike

When a bike is too hard to pedal, it’s often because of a single issue that can be fixed or a part that can be replaced. However, when the problem isn’t just one issue but several at once, it’s usually wiser, safer, and more cost-effective to replace the bike.

You should seriously consider replacing the bike if:

• Multiple components are worn or damaged
• Repair costs approach or exceed the bike’s value
• The frame is bent or misaligned
• Replacement parts are no longer available
• The bike was of very low quality to begin with

If you’re constantly fighting resistance despite repairs, the bike is no longer serving you. At that point, you’re maintaining problems, not solving them.

What to Look for in a New Bike So It’s Easy to Pedal

If you’re replacing your bike or buying one after years away, prioritize efficiency and reliability, not just looks.

• Smooth, Sealed Bearings: Sealed hub and bottom bracket bearings resist dirt and require less maintenance.
• Proper Tire Size and Quality: Larger tires with correct pressure roll faster and more comfortably than cheap, underinflated ones. 
• Correct Bike Fit: A bike that’s too small or too large makes pedaling inefficient and tiring. Reading a bike size chart is the first thing to do when buying a bicycle. 
• Quality Braking System: Well-aligned brakes with good clearance reduce drag and improve safety.
• Reasonable Gearing: Lower gears make starts and hills easier without forcing excessive effort.
• Rigid, Well-Built Frame: A stiff frame transfers pedaling power efficiently, rather than flexing under load.

Reliable Bikes From Viribus

Viribus's collection of bicycles, including mountain bicycles and cruising bicycles for women, features regular bicycles and electric bicycles with firm and solid mechanical disc brakes with 7-speed gearing systems and well- built carbon steel/ aluminum frames. 

Check out the Viribus Panther Electric Mountain bike for a model built for rigidity and durability, and for conquering challenging terrain in any rural or urban setting.

Final Words on Bikes Being Too Hard to Pedal

If your bike feels impossibly hard to pedal, don’t blame your legs. Bikes are machines, and machines either roll smoothly or they don’t.

Most pedaling resistance comes from friction, misalignment, or neglect. Fix the source, and your speed and comfort return almost immediately. And if the fixes stack up too high, upgrading your bike isn’t giving up, it’s moving forward.

You might also be interested in understanding the technicalities and differences between mechanical and hydraulic disc brakes.