Groupsets
A complete groupset is the mechanical heart of any bicycle — the collection of parts that work together to shift gears, slow down, and convert pedalling into forward motion. Buying a groupset means buying a matched system: shifters, derailleurs, chainset, cassette, chain, and (on hydraulic disc setups) brake calipers, levers, and rotors all engineered to work as one. Fawkes Cycles supplies complete groupsets from the three brands that define the category — Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo — across road, gravel, mountain bike, and triathlon disciplines.
Choosing the right tier
Each manufacturer organises their groupsets into hierarchies, with weight, shifting precision, and feature sets improving as the price rises. Shimano's road range climbs through Claris, Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, and Dura-Ace; SRAM's runs from Apex through Rival, Force, and Red; Campagnolo offers Centaur, Chorus, Record, and Super Record. Mountain bike riders have Shimano's Deore, SLX, XT, and XTR families and SRAM's NX, GX, X0, and XX1 groupsets to choose from. Pick a tier that matches the rest of the bike — a Dura-Ace groupset on a budget aluminium frame is rarely a balanced upgrade.
Mechanical vs electronic shifting
Mechanical groupsets use steel cables to actuate the derailleurs and remain the lighter-on-the-wallet, easier-to-service option. Electronic systems — Shimano Di2, SRAM AXS, and Campagnolo EPS — replace cables with small motors triggered by buttons, delivering crisper, more consistent shifts under load. Electronic shifting also enables fully wireless cockpits, customisable button mapping, smartphone tuning, and satellite shifters for sprint and time-trial setups that mechanical groupsets cannot easily replicate.
Speed counts and brake formats
Modern road and gravel groupsets ship in 11-, 12-, and 13-speed configurations, with 12-speed now the volume choice for new builds. Mountain bike systems have largely consolidated around 12-speed wide-range cassettes paired with single chainrings. Buyers will also need to decide between rim brake and disc brake formats — disc has become the default on new road and gravel bikes, while rim brake systems remain in production for replacement, restoration, and time-trial builds.
What to think about before ordering
Frame compatibility: rim brake frames take rim brake groupsets, disc frames take disc groupsets — the two are not interchangeable without a frame change.
Bottom bracket standard: Hollowtech II, BB30, BBright, T47, and PressFit variants all need matching cranksets or adaptors.
Cassette compatibility: 11-, 12-, and 13-speed cassettes are not interchangeable, and SRAM XDR, Shimano Microspline, and standard HG freehubs each demand the right hub.
Brake routing: hydraulic disc setups need the correct frame and fork hose ports.
Mixing brands: shifters, derailleurs, chains, and cassettes from different manufacturers do not play together reliably.
Need help choosing?
Fawkes Cycles has been supplying complete groupsets to riders across every discipline for over thirty years, with cycling expertise rooted in the elite-level racing experience of co-founders Mandy Jones (1982 Women's World Road Race Champion) and Nigel (former Great Britain national team rider). Use the filters above to narrow by brand, speed count, brake format, and discipline, or call 0161 620 9970 for tailored advice on building or upgrading a bike.
Groupset FAQs
What is a bike groupset?
A groupset is the matched collection of components that work together to shift gears, slow down, and stop a bicycle. A complete road or gravel groupset typically includes shifters or shift levers, front and rear derailleurs, a chainset (cranks and chainrings), a cassette, a chain, and brake calipers with rotors and pads on disc brake systems. Mountain bike groupsets follow the same logic but are usually configured around a single chainring.
What's the difference between mechanical and electronic shifting?
Mechanical groupsets use steel cables and housing to physically pull the derailleurs across the cassette and chainrings. Electronic systems — Shimano Di2, SRAM AXS, and Campagnolo Super Record EPS and Wireless — replace the cables with small motors triggered by buttons. Electronic shifting offers more consistent performance under load, easier customisation, satellite shifters for sprint and time-trial setups, and (on SRAM AXS and the latest Campagnolo) fully wireless installation. Mechanical groupsets remain lighter on the wallet and easier to service away from a workshop.
Are Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo groupsets cross-compatible?
As a rule, no. Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo each use their own cable pull ratios, chain pitches, and electronic protocols, and components from different brands are not designed to work together. Some specific exceptions exist — Shimano and SRAM 11-speed road cassettes share the same freehub spacing, for example — but mixing brands across a complete groupset will result in poor or unsafe shifting. Sticking to a single manufacturer for shifters, derailleurs, chain, cassette, and chainset is the reliable approach.
How many speeds do I need?
Twelve-speed has become the volume standard for new road, gravel, and mountain bike builds, offering a wide range of gears with closely spaced ratios. Eleven-speed remains an excellent choice for replacements and upgrades on older bikes and is still in production across the major brands. Thirteen-speed is currently exclusive to Campagnolo's Super Record Wireless. The right speed count usually depends on what is already on the bike — mixing speeds across components requires matching cassettes, chains, derailleurs, and shifters from the same generation.
Do I still need rim brakes or should I go disc?
Disc brakes are now the default on almost every new road, gravel, and mountain bike, and they offer better wet-weather performance, more consistent modulation, and freedom from rim wear. Rim brakes remain perfectly capable for dry-weather road riding and time-trial use, are lighter as a complete system, and are still produced for replacement and restoration builds. The deciding factor is usually the bike itself: rim brake frames take rim brake groupsets, disc frames take disc groupsets, and the two are not interchangeable without a frame change.
How do I tell what groupset is on my existing bike?
The brand and tier are usually printed on the rear derailleur and the chainset crank arms. Shimano components carry markings such as "105 R7100" or "Ultegra R8170", SRAM marks parts as "Rival AXS" or "Force eTap", and Campagnolo prints "Chorus" or "Record" on the rear mech. The cassette will indicate the speed count — 11s, 12s, or 13s — and the model number tells the generation. The team at Fawkes is happy to identify a groupset from clear photos sent to Guy@fawkes-cycles.co.uk or via 0161 620 9970.