Advice about chains

[crazylasers]

This may be a painfully obvious question, but I'm building a bike and looking at chains. I had previously thought that an 8 speed chain would mean 4 rear cogs on the freewheel/cassette and 2 chainrings, but having read around I'm thinking its refers to 8 rear cogs?

 

[2manyoranges]

Yup.

8 speed = eight on the back
3x8 = 3 on the front 8 on the back
9 speed = nine on the back
Etc
1x = anything with only one ring at the front
Singlespeed = insanity
Fixed = completely bonkers

 

[crazylasers]

Cheers, its pretty difficult to just find a simple, clear answer sometimes

 

[KermitGKona88]

Re:

My advice about chains is agree a safe word in 'ADVANCE' :facepalm: