I lived up a tall hill in San Jose 'way back then. Always hated riding the basic Varsity up that hill. Standard technique on that hill, was to crisscross back and forth across all lanes, for brief rests when going east-west between the times of riding up the steep part going north. Was a ***** when a car came by, you had to ride straight up the hill, which I couldn't hack so usually had to get off and walk till the car was gone.

The first time I did that hill on my brother's Sports Tourer, I shifted to the smallest chainwheel on the front, then went to the largest on the rear. Though I was going slow, the pedals spuns so fast, and with such little resistance, that I thought the chain had fallen off the sprockets. I actually stopped and got off the bike to put it back on... only to find it was still correctly in place, exactly where it should be.

Got back on and rode straight up that damned hill, all the way to my house.

There's a lot to be said for wide gear spreads, whether on a mountain bike (where they're often standard) or a road bike (where they almost never are, ST was a rare exception in the 70s). And it doesn't make the slightest difference whether half the teeth are missing or not.

BTW, I just got one of those 14-38 five-cog freewheels on Ebay (there's another in auction No. 180322499904), and a Huret Duopar rear derailleur which theoretically can handle it. My Super Sport (my use-and-abuse bike) is going to get a makeover soon. Hope it works.