2021 Parts Supply Issues GR20 Solutions
About the parts supply problems
The cycle industry has experienced a huge increase in demand in bikes, accessories and parts since the Covid-19 global pandemic struck the world and many people took to cycling. With the sudden increase in demand and the impact of Covid-19 on parts production all around the world along with the massive disruption to distribution, the industry is now faced with huge supply issues. We are seeing that some parts are simply not available until later this year or at worse, early next year. Yes, you read that correctly, 2022! The knock on effect of no parts is of course no bikes.
Shimano GRX demand, we are also being told, is extremely high and has completely taken Shimano by surprise and they simply had not made enough to go around. The demand is due to its exceptional performance and the surge in the gravel bike market.
What are we doing?
Well, we’re a brand new bike builder trying to make our very own small mark on the custom bike world. We have 2 choices really, we could just put our hands in the air and say, sorry, we can’t get the parts, we just can’t build you a bike until next year or, we could look at a solution and simply giving up isn’t how we roll and serve our potential customers.
For us, we’ve adapted a few things to get as many customers as we can on our GR20 Gravel Bikes during this dry spell in supply and we’ve already secured the stock to make this possible.
Brakes
First up, brakes. Well, rotors to be specific, 160mm rotors. Actually all rotors are out of stock at our suppliers but the 160mm effect the the GR20. In the absence of XTR 160mm rotors we’re fitting XT 160mm rotors and we have loads. They’re the same as XTR other than the cooling fins are satin silver not gloss black.
Gears
Shifters
Shimano GRX 11 speed right hand levers are not due until later this year so we’ve purchased in stock at the full retail price to fulfil bike orders and get gravel bikes into as many customers hands as we can. We are covering the vastly increased cost of this part so our customers don’t have to.
Cassettes
Shimano XT 11-42T cassettes are an issue so we have a large batch of 11-40T XT cassettes in stock instead. We also have SLX 11-42T cassettes for those customers who want them instead. The SLX is 50g heavier, we checked. The 11-40T works better with our rear derailleur solution below as well.
Chainrings & Chainsets
We’ve both GRX 40T and GRX 42T chainring options for all our current Shimano GRX groupsets. We have all GRX chainset lengths in stock. 170, 172.5 and 175mm.
Rear Derailleurs
Shimano GRX wide ratio rear derailleurs are also not due until later in the year. To solve this we have specced the GR20 with a Shimano SLX wide ratio rear derailleur which also features the same clutch mechanism as the GRX version it replaces. The derailleurs are extremely similar other than the jockey wheels are sealed bearings on the GRX and the SLX are not. Cable pull was an issue as the SLX derailleurs are MTB specific and the GRX levers are essentially the same as road levers. Basically, the cable pull is not compatible. Step in the mighty Jtek 8a cable pull converter to save the day. With this fitted as shown above they work together in perfect harmony and enable us to keep on building awesome gravel bikes.
Cassette compatibility with regards to gear ratios is a talking point here and one to point out to all our customers. The SLX derailleur is stated to except a maximum large cassette ring of 41T not our 42T. We have overcome this with the use of the B screw but the 11-40T XT cassettes overcome this issue entirely and works back within Shimano tolerances.
Shimano GRX Derailleur Upgrade
We are due to receive all of the Shimano GRX derailleurs for our groupsets later in the year and will offer them to to all our GR20 customers effected by this for £80 fully fitted. The SLX mech and cable converter remain with the customer.
Saddles
Ergon saddles have a bit of a supply issue but we have a batch of Pro saddles to loan to customers until the Ergons come back into stock.