We first spotted Shimano’s new Metrea urban groupset at Eurobike last September, but today it has been officially launched. It’s a groupset aimed especially at the needs of the urban cyclist and features disc brakes and a choice of shifters and single or double chainsets.

We now where the name comes from, it’s the merging of metropolitan and real, two words that are key concepts to the development of the urban groupset, according to Shimano.

“The new Urban Sports category could well be the most exciting development in cycling since the dawn of mountain biking,” proclaims Shimano. “Long before the mountain biking market exploded there were the rebels who butchered their bikes in the quest of higher adventures. They modified and experimented to match their passions and came up with unique and wonderful creations. For many years, the same process has been happening in urban cycling.”

So this is Shimano’s response to that butchering. Metrea, says Shimano, “occupies that gap between rapid road riding and city comfort components.” It’s designed to offer simply functionality and an elegant and minimalist appearance, but it’s grounded on solid and existing Shimano technology.

Urban cycling is already pretty popular. Has been for many years. There’s no doubt there are more people getting into cycling as a form of transportation, for riding to and from work. The vast majority of urban bikes are designed around either road or mountain bike groupsets. Shimano is obviously keen to change this and has designed a groupset specifically to meet the requirements of urban cyclists.

So what does Metrea actually offer?

The two-piece chainset is available with a single 42t chainring or 46-32t double. Both have an integrated chain guide to protecting flappy trousers from chain oil.

It’s an 11-speed groupset with a front derailleur for the double chainset option, and a rear derailleur compatible with a regular 105 CS-5800 cassette.

There are a choice of brake levers and shifters. A regular mountain bike style brake lever and RapidFire shifters can be used with a flat handlebar.

More interesting is the new H-Type handlebar configuration which uses time trial style bar-end Dual Control levers.

The new H-Type handlebars “position the rider’s forearms in a natural position, mimicking the position of hands on the brake hoods of drop handlebars,” says Shimano, and will be available from PRO this summer.

Metrea features hydraulic disc brakes with flat mount calipers and a disc-specific wheelset completes the interesting package.

The groupset will be available form April.

More soon...