Originally Posted by kajero

I keep telling everyone my Giant FCR1-W is a 9 speed bike. It even says that below the handle bars. But my SO and BIL, along with a few other friends who looked at the sprockets say there are 9 in the back in 2 in front so it is 18 gears. When I go from lowest to highest gear, I can do 9 changes. So is is my bike 9 or 18 gears? The dealer who sold it to me said it was 9 gears. I found some descriptions and pointed it out that it says 9 GEARS. But that doesn't help. I can't win the argument.

The reason for the argument? I think I've outgrown the bike. When I got it, I rarely used the higher gears. After four years riding, I am continually riding in the highest gear except for hills. I think I want something that has a few more gears. They keep saying I have higher gears (I can't find them) so why do I want a new bike. It seems I only have 5 changes on the first thumb thing on the right and 4 changes when I move the thumb thing to the left. Where are my other 9 gears????