OK, maybe not so dumb since I am a relative newbie, but can someone explain exactly how the whole number thing works? I think it has something to do with the number of cogs (is that the right word?) on the ring. Not sure how all the various numbers relate though. I have three rings on the front of my bike and 8 or 9 on the back. Do they have different names or are they both chain rings? What is a cassette? I want to go down and count all the thingies on my various rings and find out what I have but I don't know where to start. OK, that was more than one question... Thanks a bunch.

Oh, and I am now constantly spouting off the stuff I read here and can actually converse with dh about bikes and sound like I know something. He is also beginning to realize that lots of people have triples, thanks to you girls... TE is awesome...