My daily commute includes a 300 ft vertical, 1/2 mile climb, averaging about 10% grade with about a 50-100 ft section near 17%. I do it on a stock Downtube IXNS which has a lowest gear of about 30 gear inches.

When I started (April) I did the whole hill in the lowest gear.

Then about a month ago I started doing the first 1/2 in the 2nd lowest gear, switching to the low gear for the steepest section only.

Last week I did most of the hill in the 3rd lowest gear, switching to the 2nd lowest for the steep section.

Yesterday I passed a road biker who was spinning and then pooped out on the side of the road just past the steep section.

You can get the DT IXNS for around $300 now. The only upgrade I did was to put in a sealed bottom bracket.