Black Friday bike transmission: discounted prices

What does the Black Friday bike transmission include?

Eight pages make up the section. First, the wear parts: chains, cassettes, and rollers. Next, the gear change parts: rear derailleurs, front derailleurs, and gear shifters. The complete groups consolidate everything, while the transmission spare parts include derailleur hangers, links, and cassette bodies.

The number of gears, main criterion

Each generation of transmission has its chain width, which gets finer as the gears increase: a 12-speed model won't work properly on a 10-speed cassette, and vice versa. The shifter must also match the number of gears and the derailleur it controls, as each manufacturer has its own cable length: mixing a shifter from one brand with a derailleur from another rarely gives an accurate shift. When in doubt, stick to the same range and number of speeds.

Cassette, freehub, and derailleur capacity

A cassette installs on the freehub body of the rear wheel, available in several formats: Shimano HG, Micro Spline, Sram XD or XDR, Campagnolo. Its largest sprocket must stay within the capacity of the rear derailleur, as indicated by the manufacturer, often in terms of maximum teeth count: a road derailleur with a short cage cannot handle a mountain bike cassette with a very large sprocket. A long cage or gravel derailleur widens this range.

Mechanical or electronic: changing a group

A complete group replaces shifters, derailleurs, cassette, chain, and often crankset and brakes all at once. The electronic versions, Di2 from Shimano or AXS from Sram, replace cables with a battery and motors in the derailleurs, wireless with Sram. Before taking the plunge, check that your frame accepts the chosen standard, cable routing, front derailleur mount, or rear hanger. Selections for the operation also exist by bike: transmission road, MTB, BMX, and urban. All year round, the section bike transmission details every family and clearance includes end-of-line items.

Discounts on transmission: compare like with like

A discounted cassette should be compared based on the number of speeds, smaller and larger sprocket, and identical freehub body format; a chain, on the same width, with or without a quick link. For a complete group, the product sheet lists the included parts, whether crankset and brakes are included or not: two groups with the same name do not always contain the same items. A crossed-out price only means something when the contents are the same.

What transmission brands are on Black Friday?

Shimano covers all levels, from Deore cassettes to complete Ultegra Di2 and Dura-Ace Di2 groups, including the Cues range for everyday bikes.

Sram is present with its Eagle and Rival XPLR derailleurs, Eagle cassettes up to 11-50, and PowerLock attachment chains.

Miche, an Italian brand born from a family workshop, offers its Primato cassettes for Shimano body or Campagnolo wheels, from 9 to 12 speeds.

Campagnolo, an Italian manufacturer of road groups, offers its Centaur, Chorus, and Super Record cassettes as well as cassette bodies for its wheels.

KMC, a Taiwanese chain manufacturer that patented the quick MissingLink attachment, produces its X11 and X12, including versions delivered waxed.

Sunrace, a Taiwanese group that owns Sturmey-Archer, offers wide range cassettes like the MS8, designed to fit on a Shimano HG body.

Frequently asked questions

Should I change the chain and cassette at the same time?

Not always. A chain replaced before it becomes too stretched preserves the cassette, which can then last through two or three chains. When a new chain slips under load on your favourite sprockets, it’s time for the cassette to be replaced as well.

Do Black Friday promotions on transmission last long?

The operation bears the name of the Friday after Thanksgiving; however, Vélo-Store's discounts on chains, cassettes, and derailleurs run throughout November. The time to measure wear is with a wear indicator tool slipped between the chain rollers: as soon as it reaches the marked limit, change it before it causes wear to the chainrings and sprockets.

Can I switch from 11 to 12 speeds without changing everything?

Rarely. You need at least a cassette, chain, shifter, and often a 12-speed derailleur, sometimes a different freehub body. A complete group is often simpler in this case.

Is a bent derailleur hanger easy to replace?

Yes, it’s a fusible part designed to bend instead of the frame. Each frame has its hanger: check the reference with the bike manufacturer's details or on the original hanger before ordering.

Does a Sram cassette fit on a Shimano wheel?

It depends on the series. Sram cassettes whose reference starts with PG, like the PG-1130 or PG-1210 Eagle, fit on a Shimano HG body; those from the XG series, like the XG-1150 or XG-1270, require an XD or XDR body.