My LWB recumbents have had 24 tooth chainrings and 34 tooth cogs on 700C wheels, which is about 17 gears inches. That's about the limit for pedaling up a hill- it's hard to balance at that speed. I've cranked up 18 percent slopes with a 45 pound touring load (and I'm 240+ pounds myself).
__________________
Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..