This is a classic scene of the city: someone pushing their bike up a hill.
Some people may sneer at this, "be fitter or use lower gears", but those people haven't had their GP or knee expert sit down and give them the famous "Golf Conversation", in which they are instructed to take up less strenuous sports.
Pushing bikes up hill means that you don't need to be as fit, yet still get round the city, or so willing to suffer going up one of the many climbs. It also leaves you less sweaty, so you don't need a shower at your destination. It even stresses different muscles.
The hard part is finding the nice roads to push up. Nine-tree Hill is a classic, and far more pleasant than Cotham Brow. This one, Brook Hill, is in the middle of Montpelier. It's quiet and pretty.
Get out there and push your bike up a hill!