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Shimano
The leading manufacturer of bicycle parts. Shimano has come to dominate the industry, and to have a near monopoly on many parts categories. Shimano gets a lot of bad press, being perceived as the Goliath of the industry.
Shimano achieved this position because it has the most successful research and development program in the industry. Shimano pioneered many key technologies:
- Indexed shifting
Shimano was not the first to develop indexing, but Shimano's Positron and S.I.S. were the first practical systems that achieved commercial success. - Cassette freehubs
Shimano was not the first with a cassette hub, but did pioneer the placement of the right-side axle bearing outboard of the freewheel mechanism, virtually eliminating the problem of bent axles, and making possible reliable hubs with 8- and 9-sprocket clusters. - Hyperglide and Interactive Glide clusters
These developments did more to improve rear shifting than any change in derailer design. - Superglide chainwheels
A similar system for front shifting. - Biopace chainwheels
A special shape for chainwheels which reduces knee stress and offers other benefits to some cyclists. - SLR brakes
Which have reduced frictional losses and a lighter action than previous designs. - SPD pedals
The most widely-used clipless shoe/pedal system, with walkable shoes. - STI shifting.
Unfortunately, Shimano's pursuit of high performance has been somewhat at the expense of versatility. For example, to reap the benefits of Hyperglide or Superglide, you need to use one of the specific combinations of sprocket sizes designed to work together. While Shimano offers a pretty good selection, it doesn't have the perfect combination for every rider.
Shimano Date Codes:
Many Shimano parts feature a two-letter date code, indicating the year and month of manufacture. More information on specific Shimano models and technologies is on a separate Shimano Page. The date codes are explained here on the Vintage Trek site.
