Rumours about this stuff have been flying around for months now. Whenever I asked the Shimano brass about it in Las Vegas they raised eyebrows, denied its existence and then dispelled a few rumours. It isn't, for example, going to be seven speed only.

A couple of times information leaks have popped up on our board and I have done my best to keep the lid on; Shimano is too big to fight with. Now, however, someone else has posted the word and it looks pretty darned fly. Original equipment manufacturers doing the spec for '04 bikes have had this information for a couple of weeks and apparently somebody couldn't resist the chance to tell the world.

The quality and finish level is said to compete with the ultra sexy new XTR but it's also pretty clear that making the spindly bits - including a new derailleur solution - tougher was a priority. These days it is pretty easy to see a big freeride bike in my neighbourhood without a single Shimano part (I think on the big bike I have been riding only the rear hub is Shimano - and it is a converted XTR), and for a company accustomed to almost complete domination this obviously wasn't acceptable. Now they are back in the game in a very big way.

Remember - this wasn't leaked by me ;)

Check out the goods on the 'Saint' componentry while it lasts here.

Oh - and thanks for the heads up, M!

Cam McRae