Originally Posted by
joejack951
My point is that if someone can climb that slowly offroad, there's no reason one can't do the same on a road. 22/24/26/28-32 low gear is still better than walking.
That's great. I'll continue to enjoy it when I get the opportunity.
* I'm not sure I agree with this. There's a point of no return on gearing. When spinning is actually more work than walking. I'd keep the set up light and just grind over those steep grades. Frankly, grinding over grades is about what "racing" (OP's mid-level road bike) bikes were designed to do. Agreed, touring gears offer the ability to haul considerable weight up steep grades but wasn't intended as a road bike alternative. (Not that it couldn't be used that way.)
* I just don't want you to get hurt. How's the braking in the snow? I always thought, as a boy, that the braking sucked. Haha