"Granny gear" and sexism

[swansonj]

This thread is for people with too much time on their hands.

True. But hardly a distinguishing factor from every other thread on Cyclechat

 

[derrick]

This has got more b******s on than the Brexit thread.

 

[classic33]

Just curious if it was called the grampa ring would this thread exist?

Grandpa Ring is on the rear.

 

[steveindenmark]

You have had the opp experience to me, its been used as an insult if someone dared to go into the granny gear.

Has anyone ever objected to blackboard and whiteboard outside of the Daily Mail, comments section.

But if total tossers are offended. It doesnt matter.

 

[Inertia]

But if total tossers are offended. It doesnt matter.

Not sure what you are saying.

 

[marzjennings]

Is the term granny gear sexist, yes, of course it is. It's a cheap attempt at humour that turned into a general term for the lowest gear on a triple. No one worried about this until someone who isn't a granny raised their pedantic finger.

Is it ok to call out weakness in riding buddies when observed? Abso-fecking-lutley! During no-drop training rides all occurrences of 'wussdom' will be ridiculed and subsequently recalled during post-ride beers.

But I'm done with well meaning people who attempt to predict the offensive impact of my language and actions when then have zero skin in the game. With it now being impossible to predict the appropriate objective pronoun to use when talking with someone new my measure for offensive language will be based on direct feedback from those who feel offended.

 

[Andrew_P]

Strangely I can recall the first time I heard the expression in a local bike shop buying my first bike in September 2009 the bloke was explaining the difference between a hybrid with a compact 10 and one with a triple.

I knew instantly why it had the nickname weak and old need that gear was my interpretation as well as the delivery from the bike shop bloke.

Not sure what that says about my view on Granny but I also recall I had an instant imagination of a grey haired granny spinning up a hill at 3mph.

Surely everyone has this view?

Not really sure it's offensive, but it was the driver behind compact doubles and the 32t cassettes I assume due to blokes in bike shop and forums pointing at triples with a sneer or giggle (which possibly proves it is offensive) and people like me falling for it and picking a compact,

It's quite interesting challenging language.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

As usual, the offence is mostly being taken by those who are fed up with 'all this "women's rights" crap'. It's very telling, both about them and about this forum recently.

You mean the offence at being asked if the term is sexist (presumably those offended are using it), not the being offended by the term granny gear being used by others, correct?
Yes, some posters have taken offence, but I think most have dismissed the idea as ridiculous.
I'm of granny age (50+), have referred to my wee/big combo as granny gear many times, but I've never previously thought about the implication of the term, would be interesting to know how it came first into use.
Maybe when double/compact setups became the norm, if someone considered a triple they would be ridiculed by the bike salesman?
Or there was a time when all dropped top tube frames (women's frames?) had a triple by default?
More cycling semantic investigation is needed!
Before reading this thread I would never have considered the term offensive, simply because I had never heard it used in a belittling way.
I am reconsidering my stance on this one!
EDIT: I thin @Andrew_P above said the same as me, but he types faster lol

I went to a place near Wales last weekend. We walked up a hill called Lord Hereford's Knob. It was bigger than mine, and I took offence. A group of friends are campaigning for it to be torn down.

Gonna stop derailing an interesting topic?

 

[fatjel]

I didn’t get out of my small ring today.

 

[swansonj]

Grandpa Ring is on the rear.

Well, I think we sometimes call the functional equivalent to an unusually small chain ring, when it is at the rear, a dinner plate - showing that light hearted nicknames don't have to be tied up with gender assumptions or value judgements.

 

[Fab Foodie]

We can, if we want to carry on disseminating the message that climbing hills sensibly and enjoyably is only for weak people

Is that what it does though? I could call it the small ring and it might still be construed that I’m/we’re weak climbers for using it. Frankly I don’t give a tinkers what gears people use and am on the record here expousing the benefits of sensible/appropriate low gears.
It’s the baby ring because it’s the smallest, no more, no less!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

My first introduction to a triple was mountain bike. The term granny ring was around in the early 90's. Before then, don't know. My road bike till 2002 was a 10 speed Raleigh Malborough. I run a triple on my road bike and will do on my next one. I love my granny and her choice of gear for steep hills.

 

[steveindenmark]

Not sure what you are saying.

Its been used as an insult if someone dared to go into the granny gear.

What sort of a person would criticize someone for using a granny gear

 

[Inertia]

Its been used as an insult if someone dared to go into the granny gear.

What sort of a person would criticize someone for using a granny gear

Ah right, to be fair I don’t think it’s too unusual for people to poke fun at another. I didn’t think they were a horrible person.

 

[screenman]

Well, I think we sometimes call the functional equivalent to an unusually small chain ring, when it is at the rear, a dinner plate - showing that light hearted nicknames don't have to be tied up with gender assumptions or value judgements.

I think there might be a lot of years between dinner plate and granny ring, I can remember the latter from a long while back.