rck

My friend skipper(not a show about a dolphin) called yesterday and suggested a road ride for today. Unlike the trails of Green cty., the roads of Green cty, on which I've not ridden much of late, have hills frequently steep however short. In anticipation of this perhaps, I awoke today with this bit of doggerel drifting through my morning brain. (To those who are moved to critique, remember that great literature, not unlike great beauty, is in the eye of the beholder noting, of course, that I am still adjusting to new glasses.) So I leave it here for your enjoyment.(?)

Oh granny gear,
my granny gear.
I do so
hold you dear.

When to a hill I
know I must
climb in you I
place my trust
to help leave others
in the dust.

And at the end
of a long ride
when hope is lost
with all my pride.
Its good to have you
by my side
to stop the question
from being cried!
Where's Bob?On Smock valley!
he's surely died!

With the end
of a long day,
when all my toys
I've put away,
its not for me
but you I pray.

stapfam

Granny is god in this house--Or rather in the bike shed.

Dudelsack 

You know, you could easily set this to the music of "Beulah Land", the old hymn one, not the Mississippi John Hurt one or the relatively new country version.

stapfam

Granny is god in this house--Or rather in the bike shed.

She gets plenty of outings with me but I believe in every one sharing the load. Don't use her often but if she does not pull her weight- she gets called a few choice names that she may not enjoy.

Barrettscv 

I'll sing praises for Granny
I keep her on every bike
She helps me enjoy the climb
So what's not to like?


The smaller my Granny is, the more I like her
She is best, in my heart
I'll take her for a spin
We will never part

Mobile 155

What range are we considering "Granny?" Or is the lowest range simply "Granny?"

berner

Everyone's granny is different. Mine is 30.

DnvrFox

And mine is 28 - younger than yours.

rck - I LOVE your granny song - maybe a "granny" ride along with our annual "pie ride" as you were the example for the start of the pie ride.


Barrettcsv - a very nice response!!

fietsbob

Granny is good.. Respect your elders..
mine is less than 1:1, well the Brompton its mid 17"
the wheel is a bit smaller than that
54t[21.6t, Schlumpf mountain drive], BSR/AW3 with a 15t cog, hub in low.

derailleur road bike 24/28, 622 wheel .. 24/34 622-40 on touring rig
R'off 16t,a) 20" wheel, 53t , b)26" wheel 38t. they're about 18" low

Timtruro

Don't use granny too often but when I need her I'm really happy to have her.

GrandaddyBiker

Here is an article on the Granny gear that I found interesting. It says that Granny gear is for more than just getting up a hill.
https://isolatecyclist.bostonbiker.or...-granny-gears/

WPeabody 

Without my granny there would be places I could not go.

donheff

I like having a granny and low end is more important to me than high. A SRAM CD with an 11/32 cassette is a nice alternative. I understand that Shimano is heading this way as well.

Barrettscv 

Shimano is building rear road derailleurs that are rated to take a 30t. A 32t cog rated rear derailleurs are rumoured.

The ten speed Tiagra 12-30 cassette has been out for a year and the Ultegra version is coming out by the end of summer.

Unlike Sram, Shimano is not abandoning road triple drivetrains. Sora, Tiagra, 105 and Ultegra versions are currently marketed and available.

Campagnolo will launch a new range of triples soon, including multiple 3x11 speed drivetrains;

"These will be Campagnolo’s first ultra-light, hollow-forged aluminum cranks. Three new triple cranksets will be available: Athena 11-speed in Deep Black and Bright Silver versions, Centaur 10-speed in Deep Black and Black-and-Red versions, and Veloce 10-speed in Deep Black and Bright Silver versions. Chainring sizes will be 30-39-50 (10-speed only) and 30-39-52 (11-speed or Centaur 10-speed)".

https://velonews.competitor.com/2012/...gearing_219086

I would love to have a 30-39-52 chainring set with a 12,13,14,15,16,17,19,21,24,28,32 eleven speed cassette.

Barrettscv 

Mine is a 22, am I robbing the cradle?

DnvrFox

My 28 is the small chain ring, not the cassette??? On a triple. I don't know if that makes sense or not. I'm not much into gears, just know I had the 30 CR changed to a 28.

Barrettscv 

Yes, you have that right..., if they removed a 30t chainring on the triple and installed a 28t. The chainring cost is $5 to $30 in most cases.

DnvrFox

TheN where does the 22 come in?

Barrettscv 

...Ummm... the crankset pictures in my post has a 22t small chainring. This is only possible on a MTB crankset.

billydonn

Monte Christo! 22? My youngest granny is 26 and I could not live without her when conditions require it!
It is reinforcing to hear positive talk about triple cranksets... even through I have gotten stronger and a little lighter, the compact double simply doesn't work for me when the road goes seriously up.

Barrettscv 

Yes, that's on a Monster-cross & touring bike, my road bikes have a 26t granny.

I have mastered the skill of cycling up a 15 to 20% grade at 3 mph. I look like a hamster in a squirrel cage, spinning like mad but not moving much. It's better than walking ;-).

OldsCOOL

My bike's granny gear (40/24) is like Jezebel. She aint helping me on those steep hills.

donheff

My wife ang I made the same change.

DnvrFox

OK - yes, MTB I understand.

When I had my 30 >> 28 on the 105, I was told that 28 was the smallest I could get, per Shimano recommendations, without major changes. I guess, if I wanted, I could get a larger rear granny cog also??

I don't really need it, but am just curious.

Barrettscv 

You should be able to install a 26t granny gear with good result and simultaneously put a 12-30 rear cassette on the bike while keeping your current shifters and derailleurs;