Shimano
Ultegra

The Shimano Ultegra range evolved from the 600 series in the 1980s and has been a firm favourite of road cyclists ever since its inception. Shimano Ultegra is positioned between the 105 and Dura Ace ranges, offering a more performance orientated option than the 105, but at a much more wallet-friendly price than the top-of-the-range Dura Ace.

Over the years the Ultegra groupset has evolved to keep up with current trends, as well as offering incremental performance upgrades. The introduction over the years of the dual-control STI lever and hydraulic disc brakes has had significant impact on the road world, with much of the technology later trickling down to 105. The Ultegra R8000 saw some major updates and introduced improved ergonomics, greater gear range, and a lighter, more durable build.

Another hugely influencial stage of this range's life was the introduction of the Ultegra Di2 groupset. This brought electronic shifting to the masses, offering performance enhancements and improved customisation and flexibility over it's mechanical counterpart. Multiple shifters could be easily attached to a single system, making it a perfect groupset for climbers who wanted an extra shifter on the flats of the handlebars, or for TT bike riders wanting shifters on the aero extentions. Ultegra Di2 has long been found equipped on road bikes as standard by many top manufacturers as it offers near-pro level performance at a much more accessible price.

Anyone looking for a solid, high performance, groupset with great reliability, should definitely give the Shimano Ultegra components some serious consideration, either for the traditional mechanical options, or the Ultegra Di2 electrical option.