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Shimano Reviews and News
What’s best mix of new Shimano XTR, XT, and SLX?
Jason Sumner June 14, 2019Now that Shimano has three 12-speed drivetrains with interchangeable parts, one of the most common questions is, what’s the best blend of parts to maximize performance while keeping weight and price in check. Here are some answers.
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Hot Deals from Competitive Cyclist
Mtbr March 08, 2019Our friends at Competitive Cyclist always have some great sales going and this week is no exception. Check out these hot deals and get them before they are gone.
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Hot Deals from Jenson USA
Mtbr January 25, 2019Our friends at Jenson USA always have some great deals on offer and this week is no exception. Check out these smoking sales and get them before they are gone.
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Mtbr Best of 2018: Jason’s Top Gear Picks
Jason Sumner January 09, 2019Before diving into the what’s coming in 2019, here is a look back at some of the bikes and gear that ranked among the Mtbr Best of 2018.
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Best Mountain Bike Clipless Pedals
Paul Andrews August 14, 2018Here’s some the best mountain bike clipless pedals we recommend.
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Shimano XTR first ride review
Jason Sumner June 27, 2018Though we’ll need to log far more ride time before we can make any assertions about durability, Shimano’s new XTR group appears to be a home run in both form and function.
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Richie Rude on Shimano XTR 12-speed
Francis Cebedo June 18, 2018Richie Rude can put a lot of stress on a drivetrain and we see his first encounter with the new Shimano XTR 12-speed. Will it hold up or will it let him down in this race?
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Shimano S-PHYRE XC9 and ME7 shoes updated
Mtbr May 29, 2018Evolving its top-of-the-line mountain bike footwear models for the 2019 cross country and enduro racing season, Shimano has announced updated versions of its S-PHYRE XC9 cross country and ME7 enduro shoes.
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New Shimano XTR 12-speed: What you need to know
Jason Sumner May 25, 2018Shimano’s new race-ready drivetrain boasts a 10-51 cassette (510% gear range), smoother shifting, and a host of other improvements.
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New Shimano XTR brakes: What you need to know
Jason Sumner May 25, 2018Shimano has launched two new XTR-level brakes, one 2-piston model geared to the weight conscious XC racer crowd, and a four pot version for the enduro sect who prioritize power and smooth braking feel.
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New Shimano XTR hubs, pedals, and more
Jason Sumner May 25, 2018To complement its new 12-speed XTR drivetrain, Shimano has launched a host of new hubs, plus new XTR-level pedals, a slick dropper post remote, and a new chain keeper.
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Knock-off “Shimona” parts showing up at shops
Justin Wages March 21, 2018Unscrupulous manufacturers mimic the name of a well-known brand by simply changing a couple of letters so that the casual observer or someone not familiar with that product won’t notice.
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Most annoying, irrational, counterintuitive things about mountain biking
Paul Andrews January 29, 2018Most bike maintenance is fairly straightforward, involving whatever wrench and lube you have handy. But some things are just plain silly. Like all these things…
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Look X-Track pedals launched
Mtbr October 12, 2017Look has unveiled a new line of pedals dubbed X-Track. Primary design drivers were increased contact surface, low weight, and ease of entry and release, especially in muddy conditions.
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New pedals from Xpedo, HT, and Crankbrothers
Saris Mercanti September 21, 2017Check out the latest flats and clipless pedals from Xpedo, HT, and Crankbrothers.
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New Shimano flat pedals and Saint SPDs
Saris Mercanti September 21, 2017Shimano has increased their flat pedal offerings with three new gravity oriented models, plus a new Saint-level SPD for those who prefer to clip in.
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Shimano S-Phyre XC9 review
Jason Sumner July 31, 2017For the serious XC rider or racer, Shimano’s top-shelf S-Phyre XC9 MTB shoes are a serious podium contender. Find out why.
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New Shimano SPDs, flat pedals, and shoes
Francis Cebedo June 06, 2017Shimano reaffirms its commitment to downhill and gravity disciplines with the introduction five new shoes and four new pedals, including SPD and flat pedal options.
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Dream Build: Santa Cruz Hightower with all the trimmings
Jason Sumner April 04, 2017This Santa Cruz Hightower with dreamy component spec is admittedly a little over the top. But when you live and ride in a place like Crested Butte, your bike should be worth more than your car.
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Shimano announces new Deore groupset, wide-range SLX, and XT goes boost
Saris Mercanti February 21, 2017Shimano just overhauled their budget groupset, plus added a number of great new options for value-oriented consumers.
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Pro Koryak dropper post review
Saris Mercanti February 08, 2017Shimano is well regarded in the cycling world for the durability and quality of their components, so we were extra excited for their first foray into the dropper market. See how the new post fared in the Mtbr review.
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Mtbr Best of 2016 Awards: Innovation of the Year
Jason Sumner December 27, 2016Yes, there are still plenty of holdouts who will argue otherwise, but as far as we are concerned the front derailleur is dead. And for that we thank 2016’s Mtbr Innovation of the Year.
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Shimano XT Di2 takes on BC Bike Race
Mtbr November 29, 2016The BC Bike Race is a grueling 7-day test of athlete endurance and bike durability. Rocky, rooty trails in the rain proved to be a great testing ground for Shimano’s new Di2 mountain platform.
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Best of Interbike 2016
Mtbr October 14, 2016Who knows exactly how many products we see during the three-day Interbike trade show. But some just stand out more than others. Here are 20 of our absolute favorites.
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10 great upgrades for your bike — and more
Gregg Kato September 29, 2016It’s easy to get caught up in the latest and greatest. But it’s very possible your best option is not buying all new gear. Instead give one of these upgrades a try.
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What is Shimano Di2?
Mtbr September 14, 2016Shimano’s Di2 (digital integrated intelligence) is a shifting option that instead of using mechanical cables, is an electronic gear-shifting system that enables riders to execute shifts with electronic switches vs. mechanical shift levers.
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Seven exciting dropper posts from Eurobike 2016
Jason Sumner September 09, 2016The trend in dropper posts appears headed in two directions — high tech or simple tech. Read on to find out which manufactures are choosing which route and why.
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Shimano Koryak dropper post
Francis Cebedo August 30, 2016We’ve always dreamed of a world where Shimano made dropper posts, giving the world more options in this growing category. Finally, that day is here. But how is it?
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Enduro World Series shoe gallery shootout
Jason Sumner August 12, 2016Some very general observations: more riders choose clipless shoe-pedal combos over flats, bright colors are in, and based on what we saw at the front of the pro men’s and women’s EWS fields, FiveTen shoes are very popular.
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Where to spend your money on Shimano 1x drivetrains
Arts Cyclery August 02, 2016So you want to install a 1x Shimano groupset, but are on a budget. The key is knowing the best places to save and spend some extra money. Click through to find out more.
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Shimano goes full enduro with ME series shoes
Jason Sumner July 12, 2016Shimano may be best known for its drivetrain components, but the Japanese giant also does a ton of soft goods, including some very capable mountain bike shoes. Today, that line-up expands with two new enduro-specific models, plus a lightweight XC pedal masher.
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Shimano XT Di2
Francis Cebedo April 25, 2016The long-awaited trickle down of Di2 to the XT level is now here. Configurability with a smartphone is now available too with Bluetooth connectivity.
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OneUp goes wider with new 10-50t 11-speed 1x system
Jason Sumner March 21, 2016Meet the new OneUp Components Shark 10-50t set-up, an 11-speed 1x system with a whopping 500% gear range.
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Shimano 11-46 cassette, new chainrings, affordable brakes
Saris Mercanti February 29, 2016Shimano is set to deliver a new ultra wide 11-46 11-speed cassette this summer, as well as new brakes, quick links and more.
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Ultimate winter apparel for cold weather rides
Jason Sumner February 04, 2016Here’s our round-up of the Ultimate Head-to-Toe Cold Weather Kit, with cold being defined as roughly 32-39 degrees. Stay tuned for round-ups on kit suitable for freezing and arctic rides.
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Best new value priced products of 2015
Saris Mercanti December 22, 2015We love covering the latest and greatest, but the truth is, most of us can’t afford to drop 10 large on a mountain bike or 3k on an electronic shifting drivetrain. Here is our list of 2015 products that offered the best bang for the buck.
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Shimano XT 11-Speed
Francis Cebedo December 01, 2015Shimano trickles down 11-speed to XT but adds the 42-tooth rear cog that riders have been clamoring for. 1×11 and 2×11 will be offered a price similar to last year’s XT Group.
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2015 Holiday Gift Guide: Budget busters when money is no object
Jason Sumner November 27, 2015You know those Lexus “December to Remember” commercials? Well, screw that. If you’re in a tax bracket that permits the purchase of luxury automobiles as Christmas gifts, we suggest you skip the gas guzzler and instead shop from this more eco-friendly list.
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Shimano Components: Where to Spend Your Money
Arts Cyclery November 07, 2015With an assist from our friends at Art’s Cyclery, here’s a part by part breakdown of where you’ll find the best bang for your buck when outfitting your mountain bike with Shimano 10-speed drivetrain components.
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Hit List: This week’s best MTB components, gear and apparel
Jason Sumner October 30, 2015This week’s Mtbr Hit List includes 2.35 Michelin tires, Pearl Izumi X-Project shoes, the MRP Stage fork, Bontrager’s Foray shorts, grips and gloves from Ergon, a Bell helmet, and one very cool tool.
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Best of Interbike: The coolest new bike products for 2016
Mtbr September 25, 2015What’s the best thing you saw? It’s the No. 1 question we hear after every trade show. And here is our answer. The following — in our collective opinion — represents the newest, coolest and most interesting stuff our Mtbr crew came across throughout the course of the 2015 Interbike trade show.
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Eurobike 2015: Shimano debuts new shoes, 25th anniversary pedals
Jeroen Tiggelman September 08, 2015Component and apparel giant has your feet covered with limited edition 25th anniversary pedals and shoes, plus new all-mountain range, multi-season mountain touring and Gore-Tex lined winter enduro shoes.
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Shimano ups shoe game with 18 new offerings
Mtbr July 17, 2015Though best known as a component maker, Shimano now has 71 shoe models, including 18 new pairs across a number of categories. Here are some of the highlights.
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Long Term Test: Shimano Di2 XTR
Francis Cebedo April 07, 2015We’ve put a lot of rides in on our Di2 XTR test bike and it is rather strange how ‘normal’ it feels. While very complex and configurable, on the trail it can feel very simple and natural. It really doesn’t call attention to itself and just becomes part of the ride.
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News: Shimano launches anniversary pedal/shoe combo
Jason Sumner January 23, 2015To commemorate extended track record of success Shimano is releasing a limited-edition shoe and pedal combination.
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2015 POV Camera Shootout: Best in test winners revealed
John Shafer January 20, 2015Find out about testing protocol and which cameras were tops in the test.
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2015 POV Camera Shootout: Shimano Sport Camera
John Shafer January 17, 2015Shimano’s first POV camera offering is small, lightweight and simple to operate, but how will its video and sound quality stand up against the other cameras in this test?
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2014 Holiday Gift Guide: Wheels for every type of cyclist
Jason Sumner December 22, 2014Our favorite wheels for enduro, cross country, all mountain, road, gravel, cyclcocross, and just about everything in between.
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2014 Holiday Gift Guide: Flat pedals
Francis Cebedo December 17, 2014Flat pedals have come along way with thinner, lighter and grippier options. If you’re an old ‘flats’ guy looking to upgrade or you’re a clipless veteran curious to join the other side, check what our gift guide has to offer.
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2014 Holiday Gift Guide: Cold weather jackets
Jason Sumner December 01, 2014Help the cyclist on your shopping list keep Old Man Winter at bay with these weather-beating tops from Bontrager, Bellwether, Shimano, Pearl Izumi, Rapha, Hincapie, Pactimo and Sugoi.
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