Upgrading to a triple

[mcshroom]

From the spec I can google, the 2003 valour had a 7sp freewheel rather than a 7sp cassette on the back. If so you may want to try one of the "Megarange" freewheels which would give you a 34t climbing gear on the back

not sure if the rear dérailleur could handle that though

 

[karan733]

gear inches .... one of those historical quirks, don't worry about how it's worked out, it's just a number. Your "top" gear will be around 100 or more.
Road bike lowest will be around mid 30s, MTB lowest in the mid 20s

Ive stuck all the numbers into Sheldon, and his wisdom has thrown this up (see pic...)



Does this change your recommendations? Should I get a smaller 39T inner chainring to go with the 52? Or a 34/48T chainset?

PS - ive checked, and mcshroom is correct, its a 52/42 and 14-28.

 

[raindog]

If you just replace the 42 with a 38 as already suggested, that will give a pretty low climbing gear with that 28 rear sprocket.
Should be fine I would've thought.