Shimano Deore xt Groupset Review

The groupset that came with my Merida matts mountain bike is the Shimano deore XT groupset. It took some getting used to as the last time I owned a mountain bike it had twist grip shifters, and this group has 2-way rapidfire shifters and a silly little gauge to tell you where the chain is sitting on the derailleurs. I am not really sure of the point of this as I know when it is time to shift gear - either it is too easy or too hard to pedal, and if I have run out of gears, it is either time to stop and get off or coast, depending whether I am going up- or down-hill. Simple really.

Regardless, these shimano deore mountain bike shifters works reasonably well, although the chain has a tendency to stick in place on the front chainrings if there is any sort of pressure being applied to the pedals. I am hoping that as the groupset gets a little worn in it will become sloppier and allow changing with some pedal pressure, because at the moment it is a pain. You are either on the right ring going uphill or not and changing mid hill is a bastard.

The rear chainrings will allow changing with some pressure applied, but still change reluctantly with what I consider to be minimal pressure being applied. I have only put a couple of hundred miles on though, so  hopefully these will loosen up also. The cables are already stretching and have needed adjustment twice in as many rides. Fortunately, the adjustment is simply a matter of releasing the allen key holding the cable in place, pulling the cable through to maximum tension and re-tightening.

This is a 9 speed set and an un-necessary amount of gears I suspect because there seems to be quite a lot of overlap. So far (touch wood) they have not fallen to pieces and are shifting quite smoothly. There is no tendency to stick in between shifts and the shifters are well positioned for easy reach with a thumb or forefinger without taking my hands off the brake lever. Ergonomically they are excellent and the only thing I have found to be a waste of weight is the stupid gauges. Why any one would want them is beyond me.

The crankset is solid and has already taken a pounding that would have broken a lesser crank. All things considered, I think this is a reasonable entry level crankset and would have no hesitation recommending it for a beginner. It is cheap enough that I am not going to be too broken hearted when I eventually break something.

Hopefully it will be the gauges and I will have an excuse to get a set of shifters without them. Combined with my fizik arione cx saddle, this is a comfortable, usable set up and I plan a lot of time mountain biking in France this year. At the moment I am in the south of France and there is some great technical stuff in the mountains, but in the spring I will be spending some time in the midi Pyrenees and Aquitaine where there is some excellent forest trails.