Granny Gear??

Welcome to TE, rebecca...where the most benign question can trigger a lengthy thread that may or may not actually get to the heart of the question :rolleyes:

But, I'm with MomOnBike and don't see granny gear as offensive. Not just unstoppable, albeit perhaps a tad slow, but also always there to support you when you need her, just waiting for you to ask.

And I love it! Mines not the most expensive, actually the least, but it has enough gears that are for the best ride. I can alway's find a good gear. It's the triple with sora shifters. I'm sure ALL bikes are going to start having triples cuz theyr'e soo much fun.:)

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Originally Posted by Thorn

But, I'm with MomOnBike and don't see granny gear as offensive. Not just unstoppable, albeit perhaps a tad slow, but also always there to support you when you need her, just waiting for you to ask.

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My 34x25 granny gear's not as supportive as I'd like her to be. I want a new granny who'll not only be more unstoppable on hills, but also bake me some cookies.

Well I guess I was wrong. I defer to Sheldon Brown:

Granny Gear

Slang term for the smallest chainwheel on a triple crank set.

Note that this term is not a general term for the lowest gear of a bicycle, but specifically refers to just the smallest chainwheel on a crankset with more than two chainwheels.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_g.html

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Originally Posted by rebecca_f

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";)

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It's good you asked the question! I actually like reading everyone's responses and different opinions. I love my triple and I love my granny gear (which I'm defining as my small ring up front and biggest cog in back)...and I use it every time I ride around locally because there are lots of hills. Some people might think I'm a wuss but I don't care. And I like the term granny gear because it makes me think of my grandmother (she didn't ride a bike or anything, but it makes me think of her anyway!).

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Originally Posted by Kalidurga

My 34x25 granny gear's not as supportive as I'd like her to be. I want a new granny who'll not only be more unstoppable on hills, but also bake me some cookies.

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LOL. Sounds like we have the same granny ;) Does that make us cousins or something?:confused::D

My DH tried to discourage me from buying a road bike with a triple, but I insisted--not embarassed at all (thought he would crawl under a rock when I refused to even test ride a double at the LBS). Rather have a "granny" gear than walk my bike up a hill. I learned it from a Joe Kurmaskie book--he tours with one. This summer I'm trying to graduate--not use it on hills, and I haven't yet. But it's there like my "blankey", in case I need it.

My BIL didn't realize I had it. Halfway through a century, he was taking a poll of the gears other riders were using--and everyone was in their small chain ring. I said, "I'm in my middle ring." He said, "YOU HAVE THREE. NOT FAIR. I gotta get one of those." Ha ha. Who looks silly NOW ;)