Yeah that seems like a really high gear for anything with hills.
I have two bikes, and both are SS. The MTB is a 26er with 42/17 at about 64 gear inches which seems about right on our trails system. Especially now that there is often a lot of soft mud to slog through.
The roadish bike has 700x32 and 40/16 for a bit over 67 gear inches. That seems good, too. The bike is a bit lighter and the wheels definitely so, so it is also plenty quick up the hills. I’ve ridden it at 71 gear inches (42/16) also but that seems more stressful on my knees and the steep hills really get brutal.
If you try something more in the mid-60s you just may find that it works out a lot better. And spending some time at a higher cadence is good exercise.
Otto