Originally Posted by
chris3928
I found that but had a hard time figuring it out. I was able to find both the FD and shifters on it, but because the fd is technically listed as a mtb derailleur and the shifters are road it seems like Shimano doesn’t even consider that as a possibility.
And this is the common understanding that many want to be not true. from what I remember when I was learning this index stuff is that later 1990s saw a change to MtB crankset dimensions, der throw per cable pull amounts and of course the shrinking of chain ring tooth counts for MtB rings. Early Rapid Fire shift levers, for MtB, had road like trim functions. As MtB shifter evolution progressed these trim functions have been removed. So MtB cages got further sculpted in the attempt to limit chain rub.
So Shimano early on decided that MtB and road systems have somewhat differing needs and have designed with the separation of the two uses as a constant.
To step up and onto my soap box- The loss of touring or tandem riding as popular (as in profitable) products along with the further trend in expressing best use as being more extreme have made any cross over products few and far between. Andy.