Originally Posted by
yangmusa
T
I'm considering riding fully loaded over Mt Tam to get to Stinson Beach or Point Reyes national seashore. I really don't know if I could make it up those hills with full camping gear. On the other hand, I haven't tried either - maybe I should try overnighting in a B&B in Stinson Beach first, with a smaller load. If I can avoid increasing the weight, cost and complexity of adding a double crank that would only be a good thing.
Yangmusa:
What do you think about just putting on a double crank without a front derailleur? Just change in/out of the small ring by hand when you need it. I did that for my Merc and it's very handy for the occasional times when I need a low gear. Fairly low cost solution.