Originally Posted by EmmCeeBee
In my mind, a 46/36/26 triple with a 12-32 cassette seems ideal for touring (in the US). Don't even know the gear inches, and I'm sure there's a hill or two where I'd trade my soul for a lower gear.
Well said! There's no such thing as a "perfect" gear set-up. The best most people get is a "good" compromise that serves well under most conditions.
Experience with riding helps me refine my gearing every time I change it, but there is always something I wish could be different. The "perfect" gear set-up exists in the imagination, but probably not in real life.