700Cx33.3, 34t x 32t (29 gear inches) wasn’t enough to let Jim ride up the hill. My own 26×2.0, 26t x 36t (19 gear inches) meant I didn’t walk, but I did have to stand & lean over the front wheel to keep my LHT front wheel on the ground! (I later swapped my load: the two large panniers to the front rack, tent and food bag to the rear rack and the bike became much better behaved, even on huge hills.)