I have almost decided on the gearing for my touring bike. The rear is a Sun Lite seven speed, freewheel with 14-34 cogs. Wheels are 26 inch mountain bike. I cannot "upgrade" to a 8/9/10 or 11 speed rear.

I am thinking for the riding I do and plan on, including a cross country ride pulling a trailer, I should use chain rings of 38 (or 36)/32/22.

I am not racing, I do not use the 48 tooth big ring I have now, 90% of my riding is in the middle 38 tooth ring, the rest in the 28 tooth granny (Bio Pace rings). I know I will have to change to a compact crank in order to get the ring sizes I want; most of the sizes I want are not made in a 5 bolt pattern anymore.

Will the 38/32/22 rings give me a useable range of gears for touring? I expect the trailer to have close to 100 pounds in it, plus a little in the panniers.