From VeloNews:
(Full Article: http://www.velonews.com/tech/report/articles/7893.0.html)
In general, we support any past product until demand drops off or until
there is a compatible new version. So, it might be tough to find Deore XT
seven speed thumb shifters (unless Rivendell or Euro Asia still have some!),
but Ultegra 9 and DA 9 will be supported for the foreseeable future."
So, in the case of the Ultegra brakes, yes, that means Ultegra 6600 brakes
will be used in place of Ultegra 6500 brakes, as they are compatible,
slightly lighter, and offer better adjustment. In terms of appearance, we
are talking about a minor cosmetic change. As for the cassette, obviously a
10-speed cassette will not work for a 9-speed bike. We will continue to
produce and sell the 9-speed cassette until demand drops off. The current
backorder is just that- a backorder - not a sign that the part has been
discontinued.
Looking at this with a broader perspective: Technological advancement can
be frustrating in the short-term - buy a new car or computer or cell-phone
or freeride bike or yes, even road bike, and you can bet that it will be
replaced with something shinier, newer and more often than not better in a
relatively short time period. However, if we can judge by purchase
decisions, in the long term, technological advancement is highly desirable
to a vast majority of cyclists, and therefore any of a vast majority of
manufacturers (at least those who have their customers' needs at heart) will
seek to advance or refine relevant technologies. It wasn't so long ago that
we were all riding around on 23lb road bikes with square-taper bottom
brackets and downtube shifters. At the time, we paid handsomely for them and
thought they were the greatest things ever. And, at the time, they were.
Fast-forward to today, though, and sub-16lb road bikes with Hollowtech II
cranks, 10-speed STI shift/brake levers and SPD-SL pedals carry the day,
delivering better performance- they're lighter, stronger, stiffer, and
faster, with better ergonomics and smoother shifting... Perhaps more
importantly, the high-technology of yesterday has trickled down to lower
price points and become available to more cyclists. As cyclists, our
collective riding experience has become more enjoyable- parts are more
reliable, bikes are more intuitive to ride and more durable in most cases.
Sometimes these improvements come in one giant leap in technology. More
often, though, improvement is an incremental process, as in the case of the
Ultegra brakes.
Jasen Thorpe
Shimano American Corporation