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Old 06-02-18, 06:49 PM
  #127  
hokiefyd 
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Originally Posted by Novice42
So what speed would it be considered a 10 speed some tell me from research.
The "speed" nomenclature is vague and means different things in different contexts.

Bikes with two chain rings in the front and five sprockets on the freewheel used to be marketed as "10 speed" bikes. The race was on, figuratively, to increase that number more and more. Next came "12 speeds" (2x6), "14 speeds" (2x7), "15 speeds" (3x5), "18 speeds" (3x6), "21 speeds" (3x7), etc. This type of nomenclature is not often used to describe the total number of combinations anymore. Giant doesn't market this Roam as a "30 speed" bike. Road bikes with 2x11 aren't marketed as "22 speed" bikes.

The "x speed" nomenclature is more commonly used today to describe the number of sprockets on the rear cassette, especially now that 1x drivetrains (with only a single chain ring) are gaining in popularity. You could say that Roam has a "10 speed drivetrain", and that's often used to describe a 1x10, a 2x10, a 3x10, etc. In this context, "10 speed" is referring more to cassette sprocket spacing, the type of chain required, and that sort of thing. With "8 speed" and below, the chains are basically the same. But "9 speed", which is a cassette with nine sprockets regardless of the number of chain rings, uses a specific chain, "10 speed" uses a specific chain, "11 speed" uses a specific chain, etc.

Referring to the drivetrain as "3x10" is the least vague because it tells you in no uncertain terms how many chain rings there are, how many cassette sprockets there are, and which chain you need.
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