Bike Part Availability & Prices

True, chains are in short supply. I have one in the bin just in case.
My friend has been trying to order one for two weeks now.

At least they last longer than toilet paper.

 

The @bvader report.

The ships are stacked up again!

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-118.2/centery:33.7/zoom:11

Fascinating.

 

And miles of trains stacked up and parked in the desert too.

 

There are plenty of 8 speed chains available… Time to indulge that single speed fantasy?

For the geared bike, however, I had to turn to eBay. It took an hour of digging, but I found a normally priced KMC 12 speed. Most sellers had them listed at double the normal price.

 

Well it areas though this whole lack of parts availability is finally catching up with me.

was online last night trying to track down a Grip 2 damper for my 36....none to be found.

also time to replace my clapped out XTR pedals....non XT Trails are like unicorns.

may least tires have been mostly easy to come by.

 

That’s the beauty of SS....we can pretty much run any chain we want.

 

You don't like the XT Trail pedals?

 

Don’t need the platform.

old school clipless pedal guy here.

 

Got it. Same here.

 

I'm looking for a very specific part and could use some help

I need a brake adapter to convert my front rotor from 180mm to 200. I have the rotor (and new pads) mounted, but the adapter I have is wrong. I need a 20mm post mount adapter similar to the one below. Thanks if you can help!

 

I believe I have one but won't know for sure until I get home tonight. It's Shimano.

 

I may have one in the parts bin. I’ll check when I get home. Same dealio....if I do, it’s a Shimano.

 

Universal Cycles shows SRAM 12 spd chains (PC-XX1, PC-XO1, etc) arriving may 10th in Nevada warehouse - limited quantity. I love the fact they have availability info on their site.
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=80200&category=6030
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=80199&category=6030

They do charge $6.70 for shipping - free over $150. I've used them before and had no problems.

Not showing any Shimano or KMC chains but you can signup to be notified when in stock.

 

$85 for a chain????


I’ll stick with my $35 KMC x12

 

They have the lower end chains coming in on the 1oth too - GX for $33, NX for $26

 

I was thinking about how I am probably dur for a chain on my E29 (and roadie). None available on Jenson.com, so I stopped by the Corona store on my way home. None there either, and the guy at the store said that if I see one I should snag one.

Went online again and found a top of the line KMC one (on sale?) for $120. Decided life is short and I would rather be able to ride my bike than not. And hey, maybe the high end chain will last longer (like high end Sram cassettes). Then I look in my parts bin and remember that I had this same passing thought months ago, which is why I had a couple spare 12sp chains, in different brands, so I can experiment. I also have a bunch of cables as spares.

I do need XTR chains for my XC bike though. Going to keep the mileage low until I get a couple on hand. Going to swap to my smaller chainring which already has a chain cut for it for the Rim Nordic races to wear that chain first. Luckily the wear on my roadie chain wasn't as bad as I thought. I ordered new chainrings for that bike (20,000 miles); I'll swap cassettes and chain once the rings come in and the chain is done.

Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!

 

I don't know where KMC's manufacturing plant is, but their U.S. distribution warehouse is down the street from my house, very close to CrazyBear Bike Shop. The influx of eMTBs and riders who frequent P-lines has put a strain on the supply chain. As I said before, there should be tryouts and a world ranking system for priority of supply procurement. It wouldn’t be socialist (except maybe the part I left out where there would be a chip surgically inserted into everyone to track their segment times on the trails), but there would be less traffic on the trails. Commuter bikes and riders are automatically exempt from tryouts and would be provided all necessary equipment to run errands in urban environments. Those that would be prohibited from access to parts include eMTBs, MTBers without Strava KOMs and cups (or equivalent), and those who also participate in motocross riding. It would work. I know for sure because I’m smart.

 

But....bling!! It's gold!!!

I have the KMC Ti-nitride gold-blingy-lookyhere 11-speed chain on my Sutra. I don't think it was $85, but it was spendy. But hey, when you gotta show off....

 

Ummmm....

 

I know I have those (personal stash of parts) at work, but not at my house.

 

I have about four sets of Shimano pedals - Trail or otherwise. You are welcome to borrow for as long as you like. I think I have my original 737s from 1992, as well as some M9000 and XT Trails. And some new Saint clip ins that are boat anchors, but nice and secure!

 

Of all the chains I have used so far on my roadie, that one is the one that it likes best. Usually $63 dollars and I don't even hesitate to spend it with how well it works. Looks like about 3500 miles right now on my current one.

 

Last fall Amazon sent me one of the gold blingy KMC chains by mistake... I ordered the normal (cheap...) version. When I threw the chain checker on it at 499 miles, it was stretched well past 1.0 . It ate the Absolute Black chainring that also had 499 miles.

I'm hoping it was a fluke... The normal KMC X12 is holding up much better and has barely stretched at 500 miles.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I swapped some gravel tires for one of those fancy gold chains with my buddy Tony. I will check it more often.

 

They must have sent you a used one.

 

Chain checker... I check them all when they go on. And then every now and then when it's in the stand... I'm paranoid. That chain was as bad as a SRAM, and that's saying a lot.

 

may wore out quickly....but didn’t break. That’s better than SRAM.

 

Perhaps it’s not the chain that is worn out, but rather the chain checker.

 

We had one in the shop I worked at....too many of the newb mechanics didn't know how to use it....so the pin was bent. Yeah, it made it seem like every chain was stretched out.

 

Ahhhh... Good point, Grasshopper. But I had a 6 inch section left over from the original install. It still measures new... As do the other chains on the wall. That gold blingy coloring is burnt butter!

Just laying it alongside the "old" chain, you could see the difference... Give me less bling, 9 speeds at the most, and thicker chains! Enough disposable junk...