The 5 speed freewheel on this Continental when I got it had a 28 for the big ring. I got some donor alloy wheels off a mid-80s World Sport with a 6 speed freewheel but it was also a 28 for the biggest cog. Currently I have a 7 speed free wheel with a 32 large cog. But your right a triple with a small enough chainring and I could climb the hills in my neighborhood comfortably. It will be late afternoon before I can get back down there but if its still there I will invest the $22 and see if it works. How many people could claim to have a 21 speed Continental after all?