Originally Posted by bikenh

I've ridden single speed tours, so its highly doable. I guess the only downfall is if you think one gear inch is going to make big difference in what you have to put out when riding. I guess when you don't realize it takes the same amount of power to go up a hill, no matter what hill it is than you really care. Gravity is gravity andyou have to overcome it one way or another. You still have to put out the same amount of power through the legs to make it up the climb or you won't make it up the climb. It still takes the same amount of effort whether riding in a 52x12 or 30x30, the only difference is how fast you pedal and how hard it seems due to the lack of speed of the pedals going around.