Obsolete rear clusters? Perhaps not.....

[LittleGreyCat]

In Halfords the other day (for non-cycling purchase) and had a quick look around the bikes (as you do).

I was amazed to see the budget bikes with 2 x 6 and 2 x 7 gearing.
For a very long time there has been speculation that 7 speed rear clusters will be unavailable "soon".
I don't think many people have been looking to replace a 6 speed cluster.

I tentatively assume that a few ancient parts bins and/or production lines have been raided because more modern groupsets aren't currently available.
Noting that it isn't just the rear cluster, but the trigger shift changer on the bars as well.

[colin54]

They are probably freewheel hubs rather than cassette hubs, they've continued to use them at the inexpensive end of the market.
Shimano Tourney TZ for instance, available in 6 and 7speeds.
Page 90 in this 2021 Shimano Trade catalogue.
https://na.s-tec.shimano.com/s3_assets/ ... _U_v04.pdf
They still list a Tourney 7 speed cassette CS-HG200-7, page 86 in the same catalogue.

[peetee]

Budget adult leisure bikes notwithstanding, they are still predominantly specified for children’s leisure and off-road bikes for which there is a huge global market

[Chris Jeggo]

'Obsolescent' here, as detemined by the importers, but not by the manufacturers. In east asian countries where the bicycle is the vehicle of choice for going to the shops, of a type which hugely outnumbers enthusiast/hobby bikes, such gearing is common. A couple of years ago my son in Japan replaced his old 6-speed bike with a new 6-speed bike. It is similar in Taiwan, where another son lives.

[colin54]

I see from having a look through the catalogue they even do a disc brake 7 speed freehub.
FH-TY505-7
https://si.shimano.com/api/publish/stor ... 7-4552.pdf

[kylecycler]

One person's obsolete is another person's practical.