Can an old and less than ideally fit guy in Vermont get over the big hills with a ten-speed double? Yes. Here's my re-geared 1970 Gitane Tour de France. This project started when I picked up an NOS Duopar rear derailleur at an old bike shop yard sale for $4 or something. (And to think that I could have bought another one for the same price! And didn't! Idiot! Idiot!) Anyway, I was going to put it on in place of the Suntour Cyclone that I'd been using since the original Simplex fell apart just because it was French.
But once I got it on there I started thinking, "hey, this thing's supposed to have a huge capacity. I wonder if that's really true?" So I took off the 46-36-26 Sugino on the front, replaced it with the original Stronglight 93 with non-original 45 and 40 tooth rings (thanks to two Bike Forum members who know who they are) and replaced the rear 13-28 cluster with a NOS Suntour 14-18-22-28-38 cluster from e-bay. It was cheap--something like 17 bucks with shipping.
Anyway, it works remarkably well. There are huge jumps between rear cogs, but the closely space front rings provide very nice half steps. Here's what I've got: 86.8, 77.1, 67.5, 60, 55.2, 49.1, 43.4, 38.6, 32, and 28.4. That's a nice low low for my geography and physiology. The high isn't so high, but if I'm already going 25 mph I just have to bite the bullet and coast.
It shifts very well, even in the maximally cross-chained gear combos. Before I got everything adjusted I had a few minor instances of chain suck in front, which still threatens from time to time, but I'm pretty sure that's because the 40-tooth ring is fairly badly worn. I bet a newer one would fix it. Maybe I'll find one one of these days.
Okay, I'll shut up now.