53-42/13-23 is pretty stiff gearing. If you have a 130mm BCD crankset, you can substitute a 38T inner, which is a very noticeable 10 percent lower. Likewise, I'll bet you can switch to a 26T low gear cog, for another 10+ percent ratio reduction.
I would suggest something like:
46-38/13-15-17-19-21-23-26, which still gives you 96 gear-inches on top
I currently run 46-38/13-15-17-19-22-25 on the 1959 Capo, and I am delighted with the combination. I run 50-42/14-16-18-20-23-26 on the Bianchi, taking advantage of having 6 cogs instead of the 5 I had back when I was 20-something and immortal, with 50-42/14-16-18-20-23.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069