I got a lot of the "why do you need a gear that low?" responses when I went with a 44/32/20 chainring combo with a 9 speed 12-36 cassette in back. Fifteen gear inches Yo



Worked just fine

...and this on an '89 Voyageur with downtube friction shifters using the original (5 speed?) derailleurs.

IME there is typically such a wide range of gearing on any triple chainring set-up that you can afford to have a couple of uber low gears at the low end, even if you almost never use 'em. With gear and water it ain't unusual for my loaded bike to weigh 70lbs even before I get on, there are steep grades out there, and spinning up one at 4mph as opposed to 5mph can make a big difference to my legs and knees.

IMHO,

Mike