Originally Posted by
sloar
I'm switching component with a buddy on our 26'' wheeled Truckers. I'm switching from a 2x10 to a 3x9. His is stock and mine was built with a double Tiagra 10 speed group.The triple is 46-36-26, question is will a 26t be enough for a fully loaded bike or should I go lower? I was going to go ahead and order a new ring today while at work but I forgot to check the BCD.
On 26" wheels you end up with about a 20-22 gear-inch low gear, depending on your tire selection:
Bicycle Gear Calculator
A low gear of that size is usually considered the lowest necessary for most touring, but obviously that depends on your fitness, loaded bike weight, etc. You could go as small as a 22t chainring and get a few gear-inches lower if you think you'll need it.