Skip to main content

Cyclingnews The World Centre of Cycling

Sign in

View Profile
Sign out

Search

Search Cyclingnews

News
- Racing News
Racing
- Races
  - Results
  - Live Reports
  - Calendar
  - Road
  - Gravel
  - MTB
  - Track
  - Cyclo-cross
- Teams & Riders
- How to Watch
- Rules
Women's Cycling
Premium
- Labs
- In-Depth Racing
- Tech Galleries
- Columns
- Industry
- Investigations
- Performance
- Training
- Finance
- Health
Tech
- Bikes
- Cycling Kit & Accessories
- Components
Buying Advice
Features
- Live Reports
- Quizzes
- Cycling Culture
- Forums
- Autobus
- About

Home
News
- View News
- Racing News
Racing
- View Racing
- Races
  - View Races
  - Results
  - Live Reports
  - Calendar
  - Road
  - Gravel
  - MTB
  - Track
  - Cyclo-cross
- Teams & Riders
- How to Watch
- Rules
  - View Rules
  - Safety
  - Doping
  - Motor Doping
Women's Cycling
Premium
- View Premium
- Labs
- In-Depth Racing
- Tech Galleries
- Columns
- Industry
- Investigations
- Performance
- Training
- Finance
- Health
Tech
Buying Advice
Features
- Live Reports
- Quizzes
- Cycling Culture
- Forums
- Autobus
- About

Cyclingnews - Annual Subscription

Why subscribe?

Gain unlimited instant access to the entire Cyclingnews website
Breaking news live reporting and analysis from all of the major races
In-depth reviews of all the latest tech and bikes
Plus access to our subscriber exclusive premium content
Cancel anytime

From$79

/year

Subscribe now

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful

An account already exists for this email address, please log in.

Trending

Tour de France LIVE
Tour de France
Tour de France Femmes
Subscribe from $1
Download our app

Pro Cycling
Racing
Road

Falling (literally) for Shimano's new group

Features

By Cycling News

Published 25 July 2006

The introduction of Shimano's new M970 XTR has, so far, consisted primarily of official press...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email

Share this article

Join the conversation

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Subscribe to our newsletter

Image 1 of 22

Lots of rain in Japan (Image credit: James Huang)

The new XTR group (Image credit: James Huang)

A supplementary thumb lever (Image credit: James Huang)

Nope, I haven’t become (Image credit: James Huang)

M970’s new chainrings (Image credit: James Huang)

The new rear derailleur (Image credit: James Huang)

I think this goes somewhere around here… (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews)

XTR parts go through a number of finishing steps before the final result is achieved. Keep in mind that this sequence doesn’t even include any forming steps. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews)

The new XTR group is serious kit with serious looks and function to match. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews)

The new rear derailleur gets wider and stiffer links plus a bold new industrial look. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews)

M970’s new chainrings are very rigid to provide excellent shifting under load. Though it will likely be taken for granted, it was apparently no small feat to get the carbon finish of the middle chainring to visually match the rest of the anodizing on the rest of the gear. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews)

Not even the rotor was spared from the milling machine. Check out the edges of the disc brake rotor spider. The new wheel retains the use of straight-pull stainless steel spokes. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews)

A supplementary thumb lever remains on M970, but it’s even more of a vestigial nub than before as I didn’t feel the need to use it even once during our rides. Cable changes on the Dual Control setup are now far easier than before, with no tiny screws to lose. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews)

Just about every component in the new M970 XTR kit is not only anodized at least twice, but also machined and laser-etched to impart the unique finish. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews)

Our test components were all etched “PROTOTYPE”, but any planned changes between what we rode and production bits were to be purely cosmetic. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews)

Shimano increases performance and saves some titanium from the recycling bin by using center cutouts from its titanium cassette cogs as backing material for the new XTR metallic disc brake pads. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews)

Nope, I haven’t become one of Shimano’s coveted Skunkworks riders, but I at least have the sticker… (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews)

Our fleet of XTR-equipped bikes at rest on a very rare smooth section of the Kumano trail… (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews)

…the rest of it was more like this, and this was a relatively tame section. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews)

Our motley crew - ready to ride, and sweating our asses off. Joe Murray is deep in thought, while Mike Ferrentino puts on his best “tough man” pose. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews)

Lots of rain in Japan equals lots of greenery as we put the new XTR through its paces. (Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews)

Image 1 of 22

View Original

Image 2 of 22

View Original

Image 3 of 22

View Original

Image 4 of 22

View Original

Image 5 of 22

View Original

Image 6 of 22

View Original

Image 7 of 22

View Original

Image 8 of 22

View Original

Image 9 of 22

View Original

Image 10 of 22

View Original

Image 11 of 22

View Original

Image 12 of 22

View Original

Image 13 of 22

View Original

Image 14 of 22

View Original

Image 15 of 22

View Original

Image 16 of 22

View Original

Image 17 of 22

View Original

Image 18 of 22

View Original

Image 19 of 22

View Original

Image 20 of 22

View Original

Image 21 of 22

View Original

Image 22 of 22

View Original

no copy in legacy cms

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Cycling News

Latest in Racing

Tom Pidcock close-up at the finish of stage 19 of the Tour de France

Racing 'I was dead there' - 2022 Alpe d'Huez winner Tom Pidcock suffers badly on same ascent in 2026 Tour de France

An overhead view of the crowds encroaching on the riders and Evenepoel stuck behind three motorbikes unable to attack past

Racing 'With all those people, something was bound to go wrong' - Remco Evenepoel strengthens his Tour de France position despite being blocked by fans and motorbikes on Alpe d'Huez

Sepp Kuss of United States and Team Visma | Lease a Bike crosses the finish line during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 19

Racing Sepp Kuss still aiming for Tour de France stage win on Alpe d'Huez after being denied by Tadej Pogačar on stage 19

Tadej Pogacar celebrates winning Tour de France stage 19

Racing Tour de France: Tadej Pogačar flies to victory atop l'Alpe d'Huez on stage 19

Side shot of Lorena Wiebes riding in training

Women's Cycling Lorena Wiebes overcomes messy lead-out to sprint to victory on opening stage of Tour de Pologne Women

Tadej Pogacar wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey awaits the start of the 19th stage of the 113th edition of the Tour de France

Racing 'Tadej is OK' – UAE Team Emirates play down doubts about Tadej Pogačar's health after illness strikes Tour de France team

Latest in Features

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) on the podium as he receives the best climber's polka dot jersey after the 18th stage of the 113th edition of the Tour de France (Photo by Loic VENANCE / AFP)

Racing Sick soldiers and mixed messages – What's really going on at UAE Team Emirates-XRG and how will it change the last days of the Tour de France?

Carlos Sastre looks skyward with both arms raised on the Tour de France podium atop Alpe d'Huez in 2008

Racing 'Fight like a lion and fly like an eagle' - How Carlos Sastre's life changed when he won the Tour de France on L'Alpe d'Huez

Doping What to know about Tour de France nighttime testing – The rules, the results timeline, the ITA, reactions and more explained

The Van Rysel RCR-F perched on a rock in the Alps

Road Bikes Early Access: Watch our Van Rysel RCR-F review before it goes live on YouTube

Two women riding bikes in Rapha cycling apparel

Cycling Kit & Accessories The Rapha Summer Sale is offering better than half price savings – here are my 15 best picks from the Men's and Women's ranges

Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull - BORA - Hansgrohe) in the breakaway during the 113th Tour de France 2026 (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Teams & Riders Remco Evenepoel is on the rise but the battle for the Tour de France podium is far from settled – Analysis