Anyone hear anything on the 2010 Ultegra due out this fall? RoadBikeReview posted a blurb on it a few days ago, saying only that they were able to peak at it. They swore to secrecy and offered no other info.

I heard someone say that they heard it just might have carbon brake levers.

I saw it too, but I've been sworn to secrecy.

I'm actually more excited about this than I was for 7900.

Ahhh, the march of obsolescence. My 18 month old group set (which still seems very new to me) is rapidly headed toward the days when it isn't compatible with anything current.

We now have something to look forward to...

"2010 Ultegra = 2008 Dura Ace???"

I am more interested what they are going to do with the crank more than anything else. I just don't see how they could change it much from the way it is now. I am pretty confident they would not put aluminum chainrings on it.

Suck. I really like the current generation. Don't even like SL all that much. I would normally be excited but I am fearful of 2 things - they swap the cable pull to the new ratio matching 7900 making it non-compatible with current generation 10spd components....and that they apply the crazy assed pricing structure they have been using lately.

My 7800 stuff shifts pretty good

You're worried about 2010 Ultegra? Jeez, I need to get on the ball. I'm still using DA-7700.

Anyone want to donate their old DA-7800?

I have no idea what it will entail, but it will certainly involve more catching-up with SRAM.

Ultegra will probably equal SRAM 2 years ago. Seems to be the pace they're at nowadays.

If 7800 Dura-Ace trickles down to get branded as Ultegra I won't be complaining.

1. That's not exactly how it works.

2. They "did that" when they came out with 10spd Ultegra.

The 2010 Ultegra would be the "trickle down" of 7900 DA.

It's not even worth your time. I just threw ten complete 7800 gruppos in the trash when 7900 came out.

Actually, that brings up a really good point. Shimano does actually use more carbon fiber than almost any other industry save for Zipp, who also makes high end carbon parts for race cars. So, why are their components not just oozing carbon???? I mean, they've got a HUGE carbon fiber tech department!!!!!

Zipp does not make automotive parts. Perhaps there's some custom one-off that they don't advertise in any way and no one knows about, but there are certainly no production car parts. I'd like to know where you got this information.

What makes you say Shimano uses more carbon fiber than anyone else in the industry? There's hardly any carbon fiber in the Shimano lineup right now. Both other major component manufacturers produce more carbon in their road line, and SRAM (along with the SRAM Group) certainly beats Shimano when it comes to MTBs.

Mine too.

Friends do not fear about the incompatibility at least for the shifters. I heard from my LBS that the shifters and FD of the 7900 are compatible with 7800. Its just that shimano does not want us to buy piecemeal for a complete 7900 gruppo is "the best shifting experience" cough* bullcrap* cough...

Ah ha....I could be wrong about Zipp...but I'm pretty sure that I'm recalling it correctly...I know there is/was a rather large company that came into the bike industry from "custom race car parts"...not production. I'm 99% sure it was Zipp. Anyway...Shimano has been making top of the line carbon fiber fishing rods for decades...and does indeed use more carbon than just about anyone in the bike industry. They do indeed have a very comprehensive carbon department. Which is why I've always been kind of stumped on why they don't utilize it in their bike line up.

The new Ultegra will be compatable with the new 7900 group. I.E. you can interchange stuff. Plus the Ultegra RD's will finally officially accept a larger than a 27t Cass.

This is what all component companies have always done. It is the company moving forward

I am most excited to get access to an 11-27 cass. at a price point I can afford. Ive always liked the standard front with a 27 rear, but a 12 was not enough to cut it. I missed the 11.

Ive asked the exact question when I was at Shimano USA for a dealer event. The tech's answer: "They havent found it possible to get the strength to weight they want." They said they could have made 7900 much lighter than SRAM Red, but then they would have been sacrificing the stiffness.

I dont know about you guys, but works for me. I trust they know what they are talking about.

Shimano employ vast amounts of carbon in their fishing and golf divisions, and have used carbon in the shoe soles and wheel rims for a number of years. They know carbon. They researched its use very extensively before deciding on the specs for 7900. They found that they couldn't make a lighter and stronger 7900 crank from carbon than they could make from aluminum. They employed it where it made engineering and financial sense.

Also remember that Shimano is, at heart, a company that specialized in aluminum forging. They have techniques that are very advanced. Simply put, they found a better and cheaper way to make 7900 components out of aluminum, rather than carbon.

I admire them for not chasing fads and basing their designs on engineering instead.

in terms of shift quality, sram has a LONG ways to go.

He must have been talking aesthetics. Certainly not performance.

If it is, then get it. Because it will be a helluva lot better than 2009 Dura Ace.