Saposcat

Thanks. I think I'm going to change to a 39t small chainring and 6 speed freewheel with 28t large cog, keep the cranks at 170mm-I think they're actually about right for my leg length.

dscheidt

You need a freewheel remover, (Very likely park FR-1, but shimano had an earlier splined style, that uses a different puller. If that's the case, get the shop to do it, as you'll probably never see another.) a big wrench or a solidly mounted vise. The free wheel is threaded onto the end of the hub, and just unscrews. Of course, it's tightened when you pedal, so it's on there *tight*. Grease the threads on the hub, spin the new one on; riding will tighten it up.

Saposcat

So I ended up getting a 14-28t freewheel and a 39 tooth round chain ring. I had the bike shop put it in. All told it cost me about $60. I think it was definitely the cheapest and easiest solution. The 7 speed freewheel would probably have been an even better solution, because I have lost some of the smaller gearing, but overall I'm satisfied with the changes. I had read a Sheldon Brown article where he advised against mixing biopace and round rings, especially in the combination I have, but so far I don't mind it. For normal riding, I use the higher biopace ring, and then I have the smaller ring for climbing, so it doesn't seem that bad to me.