Originally Posted by
Germany_chris
Which will put the bike at ~90 pounds which is about what the KM weighed last summer. Since that ride was flat I just ran a 32 w/11-36 and everything was fine I'm probably putting more though into this than I need to.
Probably, but as someone who has pared down my load for riding most of the Pyrenees, with a bike with 21 gear inch low, that worked out well, but I certainly had less than 50lbs.
When I've carried more in mountains, I had the forementioned triple and a low of just under 17 g.i., but you hopefully will know what low you would be happier having.
I'm very much in the camp of preferring a low low, and if I hardly ever use it, that's fine, I just shift up.
Speaking for myself though, I use my low gear often enough that it is worth having, even when touring with less stuff.
And one can always slap on a tighter cassette if you want for tighter shifts, which is nice too.
Again, have fun building and planning