I am thinking of building a touring bike this winter for use next spring and summer. What kind of gearing should I use? I am planning on going with seven speed because it is cheap and the rear wheels have low dish. If I use a 27-inch wheels, a 14-32 cassette, and a 44/32/22 crankset, then my gears, in inches, will range from 19 to 85". Is this a good range for touring?

In a nutshell, yes.

I have a 14-34 on my 7 speed.

you'll be wanting higher than 14-44 on even modest descents of any length. I recommend the Shimano mega 7 11-34 freewheel, most any shop should have one.

The setup would work for me, although I would be tempted to use a cassette with 34 T. No granny gear is low enough when you are hot, tired, and on a long climb hauling a heavy load!

> you'll be wanting higher than 14-44 on even modest descents of any length.

Years ago, I used an 88" high gear for many thousands of miles of touring (on a 10-speed where I sacrificed the high gears in exchange for mid-range and low gears, with a granny of 27" -- lowest you could get w-a-y back then. I like mountain country touring). Any down hill run that I could not keep up with in that gear, I just coasted down. Nothing wrong with coasting -- relax and enjoy the descent.

100 rpm with an 88" gear is 26 mph. If the hill is steep enough, I can easily coast faster than that. The high gear on a stock Trek 520 is 128". At 100 rpm, one goes 38 mph. Coasting is STILL faster.

Mike

I agree with Michel ... that should be ample ...
I have 44/32/22 - 32-12 on my Trek and Thorn ... not too sure about my Giant though, but it feels pretty close.

I hardly use the big gears on my touring bikes when loaded touring, and I just coast down the hills more often than not ... after all, the idea of touring is to be able to look at the scenery rather than be head down and have it blur past, might as well go be car then!