As arguably the most tactile part of Shimano s new Deore XT M8000 groupset, the shifters play a vital aesthetic and ergonomic part. The dimpled long sweep paddle, grooved release paddle and optislick cable provide a 20% decrease in shift effort, crucial for the long distance endurance racer, and create an enhanced interface between rider and controls.The XT shifter paddles are now slightly longer and more textured, with dimples on the thumb lever used for upshifts and vertical ridges on the smaller downshift trigger intended to provide a more positive surface to reach for in wet conditions. Like the previous version, they feature multi-release shifting, which allows riders to downshift two gears with one push of the lever whilst an improved vivid indexing mechanism guarantees shift accuracy. The ball bearing construction and slick-polymer coated shift cable enable a smooth activation.