Shifting going uphill
 

Today, riding up a gnarly hill, I had trouble going from second front chain ring to "granny gear". Horrid crunchy noises came from the gearing system, it didn't really want to shift to granny gear...I was working "hard" obviously, is that why?

Yes. When you shift, keep the pedals turning but let up the pressure. Plan ahead and get in a lower gear before you have to really bear down.

Yeah it was kind of a foot bullet moment. Normally I take that hill on the second chain ring (cause granny gearing it is for sissies) but I wasn't up for it this morning. D'oh. I was worried something was wrong with my "baby."

Doing that is a good way to snap a chain.

Yeah, any time you shift the front, you have to let up a little.