Groupset Stock (or lack of!)

[MikeyB99]

Has anyone else found/finding that stock of complete groupsets seems to be non-existent at the moment? Not sure if it's brexit/covid/uptake in cyclists last year?

I've got a frameset coming from China (discussion for many other historic threads) and I've been looking since around mid-December at my overall build and stock situation doesn't seem to have changed. Mainly been looking at 105/Ultegra/Force ballpark and want a disc set. Found today somewhere (can't even remember now - maybe Merlins) with Campag Chorus sets in stock which could be an option even though it's a little more than I was looking to spend!

Mike

[defblade]

Yes. It completely put me off the idea of building up my own bike this year... when I do that, I want to be choosing parts then looking for bargains, rather than having to build with whatever I can actually get hold of, at full price!

Although I've not done the maths myself, I've seen a couple of people suggesting that buying a whole new bike (maybe something in XS frame size as those seem to be the only ones at sale prices currently) and then stripping the groupset off it and maybe selling on the frame/wheels/etc would be cheaper?!

[leyorkie]

Local bike shop discovered that GRX levers are December delivery through the official channels. Due to a combination of Brexit and Covid delays.

[MikeyB99]

Wow - glad I'm not alone but seems mad that people are having to resort to buying full bikes and stripping them! I don't think my bank balance will allow that haha.

I'm in no rush really as want the bike for the "summer" (thinking April/May onwards) but actually wondering if the situation will have even improved by then!?

[leyorkie]

Keep a look out in the usual places, Facebook selling groups are good.
You will often come across riders upgrading new bikes and selling the group set on .
Quite often 105 components turn up.

[Dnlm]

I bit the bullet and bought di2 (Ultegra). Ordered mid January through LBS after looking around for New Year bargains etc.

Current estimate is end March , slightly better than I expected. Slightly better because it's the full rather than upgrade kit, and 4-500 more than when I was considering pre covid.

[anonymous-user]

My mate owns a bike shop. He said some Shimano parts are on a 3 month lead in at the minute. It’s also having a knock on effect on complete bikes. Giant TCR’s are on a 6 month lead in.

Crazy really, can’t see many people waiting 6 months for a bike

[Gareth79]

Odd, I was shopping last autumn and there was plenty of stock, I eventually got a GRX Di2 set from Bike-Components, it was even on sale, that was after the main lockdown buying rush too.

[JEA1K]

The world is a different place to autumn ... those factory closures in lockdown 1 are just biting plus the uptake in bike sales.

We now have the fact that buying from Europe incurs VAT so there simply aren't the options.

I'm just glad I got my and the Mrs's new bikes last Spring summer now!

[TAZ 215]

I wish lead times were just 6 months for bikes!

6 months was a standard lead time for distributors in the cycle industry.

Component lead times are well in excess of 8 months to the factory, then build the bike and ship it half way round the globe and you’re beyond 10 months.

However, even that would be optimistic in the current world.

[Indoraptor]

It depends how deep your pockets are as well, at present. If your in the ‘ride to work’ window, getting anything at the moment is an increased ball ache, some ‘top of the shop’ stuff is (relatively) easier to find, but by no means certain. We are in strange times, bicycle supply chains are notoriously slow at the best of times, which these aren’t.