NYT link to article

The world's economies are going down in flames, everyone I know is tightening their belts, watching the value of their house plummet, living on a strict budget, etc., and both Shimano and Campy are coming out with gruppos that are several hundred, if not actually thousands, of dollars more expensive than any gruppos ever made. Does not seem like the best timing.

Oh yeah--and having to put a little too much muscle into manually shifting gears and having inexact front derailleur shifts--that certainly sums up the horror of changing gears. God bless you Shimano, my lifelong nightmare is finally over!

Personally I'm pissed that I have to look down at a screen for data- I need Giro and Garmin to get together for a heads-up-display so I don't need to bend my neck down any farther. If Lexus can put a hud in its new car, then I should have it on my bike!

But maybe the electronic gruppos will prevent carpal tunnel in cyclists whose shifters require a bit too long a throw. Maybe it's in the healthcare portion of the stimulus package. I'd take a tax break to get the Campy gruppo.

Kozo Shimano is a C-word.