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If you rode the same stuff in the alps as you do at home then fine, I though the whole point was to use chairlifts and enjoy the downhills more, which usualy means faster, rocker, more jumps. If you'r just going for the XC why not stay in the UK?
that's what I'm saying. I'd happily have parts that weren't any good for Alpine DH (as I'm not doing that!) but weighed less.
Then use Dura Ace or something even lighter? Nico did the mega on ultegra so make of that what you will though!
I can't believe that some people think that XTR is not capable of doing "longer slightly faster downhills"?!
As thisisnotaspoon says ^^ a lot of DHers use road rear mechs since they're lighter and have a slightly snappier spring action (also much shorter than MTB mechs so more ground clearance). You only have to watch that youtube video of trials on a road bike to realise that the bike will cope fine. You don't need specific "Alpine" gear for one week in Morzine per year!
Hell, I've seen guides in the Alps and Pyrenees on ti hardtails outriding guests, we got overtaken by some French locals on carbon XC hardtails (saddles up, stems down) on a descent in Luchon, even the guide on his "hardcore HT" couldn't stay with them.
Cast iron guarantee that the groupset will be more than capable of a week in the alps!
So how light could they make it if they did start making compromises! XTR is always going to be very 'conservative', so they can sell to everyone. SRAM specifically marketed XX at a certain niche, it'd be good to see Shimano do that, and push things a bit further IMO.
Then use Dura Ace or something even lighter?
I use XX...
However, I'd rather use Shimano stuff, as I generally prefer it. I'll just have to see what happens with this groupset, suspect I'll just go back to a mix and match as in the past!
Not seen anything to suggest an XTR double and bash, although it wouldn't be too much of a surprise.
can't help think that the XTR's resemble these:
[img] 
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Grafton speed stix. yum.
Nice picture on p32 of double crankset & wide platform trail pedals.
XTR platform pedals??
XTR platform pedals??
Probably Candy-sized by the look of them.
Andy
Probably something like a PD-M647 with slightly better internals. Makes sense.
ooooh yes please... look very nice 😉
[url= http://techdocs.shimano.com/techdocs/blevel.jsp;jsessionid=XClgMjkPYNvhvGwZfmLPpZwS0b1G2ddJv0NJWvGnsf9VmLJ8CGff!-1929874741?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302051123&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181679&bmUID=iBDlSQ2 ]Tech Docs[/url] are online. Looks like the new chainset goes back to the old style with 2 pinch bolts, probably no great surprise considering M970 was teh only group to adopt the other style.
[url= http://www.bike-components.de/advanced_search_result.php?x=0&y=0&keywords=m980 ]Prices[/url] in Euros too, looks pretty sensible.
All looks quite good; am I right in interpreting things that the Lefty wheelset's not been updated?
Andy
There's not tech docs for everything, so don't take that as an indication, according to that there's no cassette!
Official Shimano XTR 2011 site [url= http://ridextr.com/index.html ]HERE[/url]
Weights and everything you need to know.
standard cranks lighter than xx....and more classy.
Will stick to SRAM for shifters, cassette and rear mech but the front mech and chainset are definitely of interest.
Brakes look nice but until they are thoroughly tested, I'm sticking with Elixirs.
The brakes aren't as light as they look like they should be, although knowing Shimano they'll have steel hardware everywhere.
Chainset ratios look a bit off, I think that's a mistake myself, would've liked to see a wider spread, as per SRAM.
The 38/26 crank looks a bit odd - looks like it needs a bashring.
Andy