This page will contain blogs about Shimano, as they become available.ShimanoShimano ((OTCBB: SHMDF), FWB: SHM) is a Japanese manufacturer of cycling, fishing, snowboarding, and until 2005, golf components. CyclingShimano products include drivetrain, brake, wheel and pedal components for leisure, road and mountain bikes. These components are generally organised and sold as groupsets intended to be supplied as a near complete collection of a bicycle's mechanical parts. Groupsets commonly include: crankset comprising cranks and chainrings; bottom bracket; chain; rear gear cogs or cassette; front and rear wheel hubs; gear shift levers; brakes; brake levers; cables; front and rear gear mechanisms or derailleurs. The Italian firm Campagnolo is a competitor as the other major manufacturer of road groupsets. SRAM is a competitor as the other major manufacturer of mountain bike groupsets, though they are now introducing a road groupset as well. When the 1970s United States bike boom exceeded the capacity of the American and European bicycle component manufacturers, Japanese manufacturers SunTour and Shimano rapidly stepped in to fill the void. While both companies provided products for all price-ranges of the market, SunTour also focused on refinement of existing systems and designs for higher end products, while Shimano paid more attention to rethinking the basic systems and bringing out innovations such as index shifting and front freewheel systems. SunTour eventually lost the commercial battle. In contrast to the near-universal marketing technique of introducing innovations on the expensive side of the marketplace and relying on consumer demand to emulate early adopters along with economy of scale to bring them into the mass market, Shimano introduced new technologies at the lowest end of the bicycle market, using lower cost and often heavier and less durable materials and techniques, only moving them further upscale if they established themselves in the lower market segments. Lance Armstrong's 1999 victory in the Tour de France on a Shimano Dura-Ace equipped Trek was the first time Shimano components had been used to win the grand tour. In 2002, Dura-Ace equipped bikes were ridden to victory in the Tour de France (Lance Armstrong), Giro d'Italia (Paolo Savoldelli), and Vuelta a España (Aitor González), marking the first time Shimano componentry had been used to win all three grand tours. World championships in both the road and time trial disciplines were won on Shimano equipment. In 2003 Shimano introduced "Dual Control" to mountain bikes, where the gear shift mechanism is integrated into the brake levers, and reintroduced the "Rapid Rise" rear derailler which works in the opposite direction to traditional deraillers. This development was controversial: critics viewed it as an attempt to monopolise the mountain bike components market because the use of Dual Control integrated shifting requires the use of Shimano brakes, and the Rapid Rise derailler is believed to work more effectively with the Dual Control system. Shimano also introduced new proprietary standards for disc brakes and hubs, and for bottom brackets and cranksets, further fueling speculation about monopolistic intentions. Many people believe that "VIA", which is stamped on all Shimano parts, is a form of corporate logo, since it does not appear on Campagnolo parts, for instance. In fact, VIA is an official approval stamp used to certify parts of Japanese vehicles - including bicycles. Racing bicycle groupsetsCurrent road bicycle groupsets include:
Mountain bike groupsetsCurrent mountain bicycle groupsets include:
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Current mountain bicycle groupsets include:. Shimano also introduced new proprietary standards for disc brakes and hubs, and for bottom brackets and cranksets, further fueling speculation about monopolistic intentions. Many people also derive amusement from the practice of hanging a spoon from one's nose which can be accomplished by breathing on the curved area and then carefully placing it on the tip of your nose. This development was controversial: critics viewed it as an attempt to monopolise the mountain bike components market because the use of Dual Control integrated shifting requires the use of Shimano brakes, and the Rapid Rise derailler is believed to work more effectively with the Dual Control system. Babies and some types of domestic birds, such as lovebirds and budgerigars can often be entertained for extended periods by being shown their reflection in the two different sides of a metal spoon. In 2003 Shimano introduced "Dual Control" to mountain bikes, where the gear shift mechanism is integrated into the brake levers, and reintroduced the "Rapid Rise" rear derailler which works in the opposite direction to traditional deraillers. [www.scortonarrow.com/history/history.htm]. World championships in both the road and time trial disciplines were won on Shimano equipment. See: Hugh D Soar in Some notes on the regulation of two seventeenth century archery societies. In 2002, Dura-Ace equipped bikes were ridden to victory in the Tour de France (Lance Armstrong), Giro d'Italia (Paolo Savoldelli), and Vuelta a España (Aitor González), marking the first time Shimano componentry had been used to win all three grand tours. Variations continued however in respect of the "Spoon", or "Petticoat" the part of the target outside of the scoring zones. Lance Armstrong's 1999 victory in the Tour de France on a Shimano Dura-Ace equipped Trek was the first time Shimano components had been used to win the grand tour. The Prince Regent is credited with stabilising the colours of Archery Targets, and with the exception of certain Clubs and Societies, there was a general conformity with the precedence of Gold, Red, Inner White, Black and Outer White. In contrast to the near-universal marketing technique of introducing innovations on the expensive side of the marketplace and relying on consumer demand to emulate early adopters along with economy of scale to bring them into the mass market, Shimano introduced new technologies at the lowest end of the bicycle market, using lower cost and often heavier and less durable materials and techniques, only moving them further upscale if they established themselves in the lower market segments. The US rock band Soundgarden had a hit single "Spoonman" which featured spoons being played as percussion instruments in 1993. SunTour eventually lost the commercial battle. Bobby Hebb is a well-known spoons player. While both companies provided products for all price-ranges of the market, SunTour also focused on refinement of existing systems and designs for higher end products, while Shimano paid more attention to rethinking the basic systems and bringing out innovations such as index shifting and front freewheel systems. In addition to common tableware, musical instrument suppliers make spoons that are joined at the handle. When the 1970s United States bike boom exceeded the capacity of the American and European bicycle component manufacturers, Japanese manufacturers SunTour and Shimano rapidly stepped in to fill the void. These musical genres make use of other everyday objects as instruments, such as the washboard and the jug. SRAM is a competitor as the other major manufacturer of mountain bike groupsets, though they are now introducing a road groupset as well. Spoons as an instrument are associated with American folk music, minstrelsy, and jug and spasm bands. The Italian firm Campagnolo is a competitor as the other major manufacturer of road groupsets. Music expert Mike Kieth hypothesizes that "Spoons were probably used as instruments shortly after spoons were used for eating.". Groupsets commonly include: crankset comprising cranks and chainrings; bottom bracket; chain; rear gear cogs or cassette; front and rear wheel hubs; gear shift levers; brakes; brake levers; cables; front and rear gear mechanisms or derailleurs. The fingers and other body parts may also be used as striking surfaces to produce different sounds and for visual effect. These components are generally organised and sold as groupsets intended to be supplied as a near complete collection of a bicycle's mechanical parts. The spoons are typically struck against the knee and the palm of the hand. Shimano products include drivetrain, brake, wheel and pedal components for leisure, road and mountain bikes. When the pair is struck, the spoons sharply hit each other and then spring back to their original position. . A pair of spoons is held like Chopsticks, with concave sides facing out. Shimano ((OTCBB: SHMDF), FWB: SHM) is a Japanese manufacturer of cycling, fishing, snowboarding, and until 2005, golf components. Spoons (not a single one) can be played as a makeshift percussion instrument, or more specifically, an idiophone related to the castanets. Tourney - this includes several different levels of quality, and can be found on department-store bicycles. Alivio. As of the 1940s a combination utensil of spoon and fork, the spork has been in use. Deore. The resulting liquidified heroin is then transferred to a syringe and injected. LX. Teaspoons are commonly employed by heroin addicts to "cook" the drug in by use of holding a flame underneath. XT. Spoons are still more used widely in cooking and serving, however. XTR - This is the top of the range for CrossCountry(XC) mountain bikes. Spoons are nowadays used primarily for eating liquid or semi-liquid foods, such as soup, stew, or ice cream, and very small or powdery solid items which cannot be easily lifted with a fork, such as sugar and green peas. Hone. In the Middle Ages in Europe, spoons served all the purposes in eating now served by forks or spoons; after the introduction of the fork, the spoon diminished in use. Saint - This is the top of the range for DownHill(DH)/FreeRide(FR) bikes. Spoons have been used by many cultures for many centuries, as the Achaemenid Persian spoon at right illustrates. Sora. . Tiagra. A wooden spoon is also not an uncommon choice as an implement for mild physical punishment, in the form of a spanking, especially used on young children (too small to endure heavier traditional implements except the bare hand), and as a so-called pervertible in sexual bondage. A spoonful is an indicative cubic measure for non-solid substances, in some sizes, such as a tea spoon, a soup spoon, not uncommon in culinary and medical recipes. The British satirical magazine Private Eye features a spoof interview column called "Me and My Spoon" in which well known public figures are quizzed on various aspects of their relationships with, thoughts regarding, experiences of and memories of spoons. It may be linked to the common insulting phrase "Not the sharpest knife in the drawer," which has an identical meaning. Spoon is an insulting epithet used to describe a person who lacks intelligence, or displays stupidity. Wooden spoon is a phrase used to describe the "achievement" of a team or individual in finishing last in a contest, a wooden spoon being a common and almost valueless object, in stark contrast to the contest winners who will often receive a trophy made of silver or similar precious metal. Spooning involves two people cuddling together, possibly while engaging in sexual intercourse, with both people facing the same direction, one pressed up behind the other and with legs bent to some degree so that the bodies fit together like two spoons. Souvenir spoon — may be any of the above types of spoon, but an important additional function is to signify or hold a memory of a place or event. Ear spoon. Cocaine spoon. Silver spoon — a small spoon given to a newborn child to ensure good fortune; used as a metaphor for someone born to riches. Love spoon — a carved wooden spoon given as a token of betrothal. Runcible spoon — invented by Edward Lear in The Owl and the Pussycat, but later given a real meaning. Wooden spoon. Slotted spoon. Serving spoon. Ladle — spoon with a long handle attached vertically; for liquids. Spoodle — a cross between a spoon and a ladle, often used in European cooking, particularly for soups and stews. Plastic spoon cheap and easily mass produced. Absinthe spoon. Silver cannot be used because it affects the taste. Caviar spoon — usually made of mother of pearl, gold, animal horn or wood. Egg spoon — used for hens' eggs; smaller than a teaspoon. Grapefruit spoon — a special spoon with serrated edges for cutting into and eating grapefruit halves. Bouillon spoon. Demitasse spoon. Dessert spoon — between tablespoon and teaspoon in size. Iced tea spoon. Teaspoon. Tablespoon. Chinese soup spoon — usually ceramic and of a distinct Chinese soup spoon shape. metal soup spoon similar in shape to a teaspoon. Soup spoon — different types:
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