Granny Gear??

For me, the granny gear is the easiest gear combination - smallest chain ring and largest cog.

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Originally Posted by Thorn

Only if it isn't right for you. If it works and it has the gears you want when you need them, then it is "normal" and every one else's bike is "strange".

Double vs. Triple vs. Compact Double....oh dem's fightin' wurds. Mention that and, egads, the discussion board goes nuts--it is a very cycling relgious issue. I don't know what the distribution of bikes vs. crank configuration is--generally, the racier the bike, the more likely it will have a standard double; the more relaxed and targeted at the weekend rider, the more likely it has a triple.

...my bike comes complete with a great granny gear...that is, when I get off and walk it. It has been a while since I had to succomb to using the great granny, but it is always nice to know she's there and waiting....

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I just got back from having my friend look at my bike. He said I have racing gears on the back and mtb (cant remember what he called it) on the front (it has the three rings).

Tina

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Originally Posted by Thorn

Only if it isn't right for you. If it works and it has the gears you want when you need them, then it is "normal" and every one else's bike is "strange".

Double vs. Triple vs. Compact Double....oh dem's fightin' wurds. Mention that and, egads, the discussion board goes nuts--it is a very cycling relgious issue. I don't know what the distribution of bikes vs. crank configuration is--generally, the racier the bike, the more likely it will have a standard double; the more relaxed and targeted at the weekend rider, the more likely it has a triple.

...my bike comes complete with a great granny gear...that is, when I get off and walk it. It has been a while since I had to succomb to using the great granny, but it is always nice to know she's there and waiting....

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I've never understood this, but then I've never been much part of the cycling "scene" either. In Norway we have some rides and races that go up GREAT BIG HILLS that last for a really LONG TIME, these can be really hard and it seems really tiny gears are very popular - hardly grannylike. We don't have a big roadie contigent at all and for most people a "bike" is a mtb, so grannies are everywhere.

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Originally Posted by lph

I've never understood this, but then I've never been much part of the cycling "scene" either. In Norway we have some rides and races that go up GREAT BIG HILLS that last for a really LONG TIME, these can be really hard and it seems really tiny gears are very popular - hardly grannylike. We don't have a big roadie contigent at all and for most people a "bike" is a mtb, so grannies are everywhere.

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Yeah, I don't get it either and I guess why I think it is so important to grab your inner self confidence and shout that *your* bike is normal because it works for *you* in *your* terrain, whatever that bike may be. There is no one-true bike. No shame in a granny gear--I kinda like dropping into the granny and spinning up the hill. I see so many more wild flowers on the climb when I can enjoy it.

But, what do I know? I don't race. I just like to get on my bike and ride and ride and ride and ..... (well, until I have to get off of it and go into work so that I can earn enough money to provide it with pretty things like tires and tubes and saddles and a new coat of wax....)

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Originally Posted by ny biker

For me, the granny gear is the easiest gear combination - smallest chain ring and largest cog.

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That's what I've always understood, too. In which case, every bike with more than one gear has a granny.

I've always had a triple and make liberal use of my granny gear combinations. Sure, as the season goes on, I use harder and harder gears on some small hills, but I don't see why I should be mashing and struggling just to say I didn't use the granny. Besides, I am old enough to be a granny :eek:.
Indigoiis, you can tell your DH that my DH, who is a very strong rider, has gone from a double, to a compact, to a triple. He could care less what others think. We ride some big hills and the fact that every time we come home, we climb a 10-15% grade had quite a bit to do with him getting a triple on his current bike.

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Originally Posted by Kalidurga

That's what I've always understood, too. In which case, every bike with more than one gear has a granny.

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Huh. I think if I walked into a bike shop (or talked to someone who tours with a load) and referred to a low gear of 39x23 as a granny, they'd either fall down laughing or be struck speechless.

In 25 years of pretty serious bikie-dom, I've never heard anyone call the lowest gear on a double crankset a granny.

Just my experience.

+1. I always heard the term to refer to the smallest chainring in a triple.

I never thought about how sexist AND ageist the term is until recently. Now, I'll say "puppy gear" or "baby chainring" or just "smallest chainring" when I don't feel like being cute.

Cliff climber??

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

Huh. I think if I walked into a bike shop (or talked to someone who tours with a load) and referred to a low gear of 39x23 as a granny, they'd either fall down laughing or be struck speechless.

In 25 years of pretty serious bikie-dom, I've never heard anyone call the lowest gear on a double crankset a granny.

Just my experience.

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But they do with compacts, which are still nowhere as low as a triple. Or at least the shop I talked to does. My bike has a lowest gear of 34x25 and I'm debating whether I'm going to need some proper granny (or even great-great-granny ;) ) gears.

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Originally Posted by indigoiis

My husband keeps threatening to take mine off.

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Does he kick crutches out from under people too?

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf;415235I

never thought about how sexist AND ageist the term is until recently. Now, I'll say "puppy gear" or "baby chainring" or just "smallest chainring" when I don't feel like being cute.

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I love puppy gear or baby chainring. TE should start a movement to change the language..one word at a time! :D:rolleyes:

Indigio- I hope your hubby one day will adjust to the idea in the future, that he may need the "puppy gear". :p And that he will have no hesitation to tell you when the time comes.

Why not baby ring, since the expression is already out there?

The three rings on my crankset are "Granny," "Crusing" and "YEE HAW." Named, obviously, for the function of each. Feel free to use the terminology.

I kind of understand that some people may think that "Granny" is sexist & ageist, but it puts me in mind of my Granny Hazel who lived in the Colorado mountains and could outwalk most other people on those uphills - including some macho-type men. Thus, it's a compliment, meaning unstoppable, if a tad slow.

I bought my bike for touring, so I need all the help I can get when struggling up steep hills. If that help comes from a female ancester, so much the better.

I have read all the respnoses and people seem to be defending "granny gears" I still class myself as a biginner and I'm still learning all the terminology that people refer to on their bike but did not know it would cause an argument weather granny gears are good,bad sexist or cool!? I was just wondering what an earth a "Granny Gear" was, obviously will not use this term again if it offends people.

But thanks for all the respones I have learnt the term "Granny gear";)