When will the bike shortage in the UK end ?

[Alex321]

I have been in a couple of bike shops plenty of bikes think saying that there is a shortage is just a excuse to get a high price .

I don't.

While the numbers available are increasing, they are still very limited compared to what there were a couple of years ago.

And most bike shops would rather sell more bikes at a reasonable margin than sell a few at a higher margin. If they had them available, they would.

 

[PaulSB]

I have been in a couple of bike shops plenty of bikes think saying that there is a shortage is just a excuse to get a high price .

It depends what you want to buy.

My LBS is packed out with bikes and very happy with sales. Everything in stock is aimed at the local market and the price people will pay. I've no problem with this.

However if I wanted for example to replace my summer bike I would be looking at 9-12 months wait. I've got an Ultegra group set on order for March!

 

[alex_cycles]

I think that particular one may be microshift.

Yes I think it is. I've bought two of those cassettes within the last month for an 2nd-hand Diverge I found on Gumtree/ebay. I went to a Decathlon branch though, not online. They may have run out now.

 

[Blue Hills]

Yes I think it is. I've bought two of those cassettes within the last month for an 2nd-hand Diverge I found on Gumtree/ebay. I went to a Decathlon branch though, not online. They may have run out now.

Early days I know but how are you finding them?

 

[alex_cycles]

Early days I know but how are you finding them?

To be honest, in use, they're indistinguishable from Shimano. They work perfectly so far. They MIGHT be a few grammes heavier (like 10g), but if you were a weight weenie you would be using Ultegra or Dura Ace anyway

 

[ianrauk]

Early days I know but how are you finding them?

I've swapped over to Decathlon cassettes (purchased in the new Bromley store). Great quality for a cheaper than Shimano priced equivalent . Nice crisp gear changes so no complaints here. Be interesting to see how long they last. I usually change a cassette and chain once a year regardless as I can't be bothered checking.

 

[Blue Hills]

I've swapped over to Decathlon cassettes (purchased in the new Bromley store). Great quality for a cheaper than Shimano priced equivalent . Nice crisp gear changes so no complaints here. Be interesting to see how long they last. I usually change a cassette and chain once a year regardless as I can't be bothered checking.

thanks for the recommendation though as you say you don't have durability data yet - only just realised in searching for something that a Bromley store even existed.
Must admit to being a tad surprised that you only change the cassette/chain once a year. On your commuter bike? If so no chainring issues?

 

[ianrauk]

If so no chainring issues?

None what so ever. The chain gets looked after with a regular once a week clean and a wipe after rainy rides.
The Bromley store has a fairly large, well stocked cycling department.

 

[biggs682]

Been using decathlon cassettes and chains for a while now again now issues at all

 

[Blue Hills]

Been using decathlon cassettes and chains for a while now again now issues at all

Do their own chains use a link biggs?
If so is it cross compatible with any other links?

 

[biggs682]

Do their own chains use a link biggs?
If so is it cross compatible with any other links?

Yes links but not tried with other makes

 

[deaninkl]

A freind here in Taiwan pulled the trigger on a Gravel build using a locally made frame, GRX810 groupset and mid level other componants, he is XL so no possibility of buying off the shelf locally. LBS that is building the bike told him 4 weeks to complete, the group set and wheels taking the longest time. Everything is Taiwan made. However the general picture here is not good at all. Bike factories working slow time as they dont have raw materials and some not able to ship due to no containers. I wanted to buy a Merida Silex 400, but was told mid to late 2022, with no gurantee. I took the Silex 200 instead and change the chainrings and cassette... got close to what I wanted but not with a GRX groupset.. times are tough...;o)

 

[Biker man]

If people stopped buying the prices would drop like a stone .

 

[Alex321]

If people stopped buying the prices would drop like a stone .

Of course.

But that isn't going to happen. Demand for bikes is always fairly high, and has been more so than usual during the pandemic.

Prices are high because demand has not fallen, while available supply has.

 

[PaulSB]

I offer this comment with little evidence to back it up.

The company my No 1 son works for manufactures a very significant proportion of its product in China and has experienced severe supply chain problems since Brexit. Initially this was a direct result of Brexit but those hurdles have been overcome.

The issue now is a lack of and reduced production capacity in China. A consequence of which is for capacity elsewhere in the Far East to be heavily booked.

The lack of Chinese capacity results from the government ordering all manufacturers to cut production by 50% to reduce energy consumption and help the country achieve its emissions targets.

One can find media reports of this but I've not noticed anything in the UK media.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/28/economy/china-power-shortage-gdp-supply-chain-intl-hnk/index.html