Shimano’s XTR group in all its glory

Apparently the iF Product Design Award, presented by the Internationalen Forum Design in Hanover, Germany, is one of the world’s three leading design awards. It’s been awarded for the past 50 years and this year an impressive 2,293 products from 35 countries were put before the judging panel.

The panel considered production methods, functionality, innovation and design. And in the “Leisure and Lifestyle” category it was none other than Shimano’s all-new 2007 XTR groupset taking the honours.

Clearly the judges went for the “X” motif that finds its way, in some form or other, on to every bit of the XTR group. As a result of the win, an XTR-equipped bike will form part of the iF design exhibition that will open alongside IT and telecoms trade fair CeBIT from 17 March. It’s expected to receive around 300,000 visitors before closing again in August.

Want to know more? XTR has its own website at www.shimano-xtr.com.