For the Tanaka 32 the #12 is considered the trail gear, for the R/S 35 it is considered the street gear.
Which I just found out talking to Dennis yesterday...I knew how hectic it was getting the backorders filled on the T-33, when I counted the teeth on the 2 I rec'd, there were 12, when I specified "trail gears on ALL future orders" (I have like 7 gears laying in a tray, all "13's").
NOW that I know, I understand folks using 14's as highway. When testing the first version of the T-40, that "14" was a belt eater, now I've heard the kinks are out of the "14", and I'll get one for Rocinante.
BTB: 5 tankfulls of gas, NO ETHANOL ever, and the engine will start exerting some muscle. You'll learn to get a jump on the local hills, or find gentler alternative routes. Remember, re-routing a little bit may only add 5 miles to the journey.
I've walked a few unfamiliar mountains myself (4 since 2005, most with the camping equipment aboard) and downshifted less than 5 times, but I'm a svelte 175 lbs!!!!!
Get a 12 tooth and try it, if you don't like it, you and I can swap sizes via mail/honor system.
If anybody else wants to swap gear tooth sizes,
let's use this thread to do so...