i mean, is there any place in the world where they reverse the normal
usage?

Maybe he just wants to see how tall of a gear he can push up the hill?

ha ha.

well if one writes fiction, the characters can be as manly as
the author likes..

still i doubt that is what he meant, i just think he
mistook high for low.

anyway, i emailed the author, i will report his answer if he answers.

wle.