[QUOTE=Paul Braithwait;11638851Well, I've finally replaced the stock 52 tooth chainwheel for a 48 tooth model to lower the gearing of my four year old Swift. As I have mentioned on the forum before, I live in a very hilly area and low gears are more use to me than big gears. In the four years I have owned the bike I have never used the top two cogs on the open road but I have sometimes run out of low gears on hills.

I shall be 60 on the 20th October and have given up any thoughts of winning at Alpe d'Huez!

[/QUOTE]

Paul,
I know exactly where you are coming from and where you are going.

I just turned 68 on Oct. 23 and those hills I used to climb now look like mountains.
It doesn't help that I am out of shape and have added some weight.

As a birthday present to myself, I just replaced my chainring with a 42 tooth one.
http://harriscyclery.net/product/ori...2961&alert=OK&

Last year I replaced the cluster with an 11-32.
The result is really a great improvement.

I don't need to go fast anymore. I had rarely been above gear 5 on the flats.

The lowest gear makes it a simple pleasure going up the hills and the highest gear will still get me to 20 mph @ 90 rpm. More than fast enough. I am actually going up the hills faster now than I did with the original chain ring.

I have gotten most of the advantages of adding a front derailleur with a much simpler conversion.