Originally Posted by
fietsbob
"speeds" apply to the back not the crank. you are quoting marketing ..
I've always understood "speeds" as to meaning the total number of gears, i.e 2 front, 5 rear = 10 speed etc...
On its own a cassette can be called 5, 9, 11 speed or whatever, but a bike's "speeds" is described by multiplying front with back. A triple crank with an 11-speed cassette makes a 33-speed bike.
But whatever
Sheldon Brown on speeds:
6-speed, 7-speed, 8-speed, 9-speed, 10-speed, 11-speed?