Late to enter this thread, but I'll toss in my zwei pfennig.
I think that your Kestrel is geared a little too high for most people, and a toothier cassette would be worth the effort. Perhaps you have a bike co-op near you that would have a box full of cassettes to browse. That would be a low-cost method of finding out if a larger rear cogset is what you need.
It also seems to me like your Kestrel might be a worthy candidate for a new set of wheels, cranks, derailleurs, and shifters. If your bike fits you well and you like riding it, maybe a winter project this coming year? Might be worth it. Lots of money though. You could probably find a more-suitable bike on CL for the price of new components.