Originally Posted by
cyccommute
What works for you doesn't necessarily work for everyone else. I'm not a weak rider but I wouldn't ride a 34/32 on a rail trail. I would also consider a 28/32 to be a "high" low gear. On my most recent tour of the Northern Appalachias, I had a 22/32 and I had to walk more hills then I've ever had to walk before eventhough I've toured in very similar terrain. I've done 20/34 in the past and didn't have to walk anything in the southern Appalachias
My current gearing is a 20/36 mostly because I can and I hate walking rather than pedaling.
Get gears as low as you can.
Yup, my last tour took me through the eastern hills of CT. Lots of 8% grade signs, steep pitches up. Wished I had lower than my 22-34. If you don't need the low gears, that's great. Just shift up a little. But much easier to use the low gears than it is to walk.