Originally Posted by
bygeorge
George
Cassette 32 x 11. Rings. 48 x 36 x 26
To amplify what others have said about fitness, I do fully loaded (camping and cooking gear and warm and cold weather clothing) touring in the hilly/mountainous west (and east) with a 46 x 36 x 24 and an 11-34 cassette. (Until a few years ago my smallest chainring was a 26.) So your gearing is already low for unladed riding. With that said, you should be able to drop to a 24 with little expense if you really want to. Same for Lois.