In the corner of the Shimano booth, inside a vast trade show hall, sat part of a cozy and hip city loft with brick walls and warm hardwood flooring. A bike hung inside this setting: a flat black bike with cowhorn bars, flat pedals, fat slick tires, and a gleaming drivetrain.

This scene was set up to illustrate the customer Shimano imagines will use its Metrea groupset. Spokesman Nick Legan describes the customer as "an urban minimalist, interested in bikes, design, and technology.” Though Metrea is still considered a concept, Legan says it’s very likely to become a production product.

Metrea mostly consists of existing Shimano parts with different finishes, but the cowhorn STI levers are all new. Matt Phillips

Much of Metrea could be described as amore elegant Ultegra or XT group, with a dark gray and silver look that’s more Apple or Bang & Olufsen than bike component. As evidence that it more than just “very likely” will make production, Legan was able to provide some group specifics.

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Metrea is a mechanical shift group with hydraulic disc brakes (flat-mount calipers, 140mm-only rotors). Cranks will be offered with both double rings, or, as shown on the concept bike, 1x with a 42-tooth ring and pants guard. The rear derailleur is short cage, but is apparently compatible with up to an 11-32 cassette. There is also a wheelset with 35mm-ish aluminum rims, and tidy flat pedals. Two shifters are offered: one for flat bar, or the more interesting and unique shift/brake STI lever for cowhorn bars. Like Shimano’s drop-bar STI levers, the rider swings the brake lever for a downshift and presses a button behind the brake lever for an upshift.

The hydraulic disc brake calipers are only offered in the new flat-mount standard. Matt Phillips

By the way, if you like the look, you can use Metrea's components with Shimano parts from other series.

There was no word on when Metrea might be available or how much the parts will cost, but Legan says that bike brands are already in the process of designing bikes with the group in mind.

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