Going to a smaller chain ring gives you some added climbing range, but the biggest changes can be had out back. I run a 10-52 cassette with a Wolftooth 34 oval chainring on my gravel bike. Super good for loaded down and steep hill climbs. You can keep your road shifters too! Just a slide mod with a Ratio kit.
I am also super into smaller rather than bigger chainrings, you can always coast if you wanna go down but you can run out of gears if you are climbing.
