Shimano

Anyone who has ever ridden a bike has likely come across the name Shimano. They are a Japanese based component manufacturer best known for their rear derailleurs, but they produce a wide range of componentry including full groupsets. Their components can be found across all types of bikes including road bikes, hybrid bikes, electric bikes and mountain bikes.

Those from a road background have probably seen Shimano 105 groupsets on endurance road bikes, and the likes of Ultegra and Dura-Ace components on road race bikes and other carbon fibre road bikes. Anyone who rides a mountain bike will be familiar with the SLX, XT and XTR components that are found on hardtail mountain bikes and full suspension mountain bikes alike. Urban bikes may well be host to a Nexus internal hub gear system which requires very little maintenance and allows alternatives to chains to be used, such as Gates belt drive systems.