The 2007 Tour de France served as SRAM's venue for officially unveiling their newly-minted time trial components. Team Saunier Duval had used their Force component gruppo (as well as Red prototypes) throughout the year, but the '07 Tour was the first time SRAM vocally hyped the team's use of their TT equipment. All hopes were on Brit David Millar to pull off a dark horse Prologue win in the streets of London. Unfortunately, he barely cracked the top-15. But Millar is well-known as a time trial specialist, and he plotted for redemption in the Stage 19 TT from Cognac to Angoulême. But his hopes were crushed 10 pedal strokes into the race. Who could forget how he literally ripped the skins off of his Mavic disc wheel? He got a sloppy wheel change, and never gained a rhythm. What might've been a celebratory day for SRAM was dashed by a poorly made Mavic prototype. Never a dull moment in le Tour!

SRAM's TT-specific component line-up is comprised of a grand total of two components, one of which is these carbon fiber bar end shift levers -- exactly as used by Millar and the rest of Saunier Duval in the '07 Tour. SRAM has the distinction of offering the only carbon bar end shifters in the marketplace, which is why they're so delightfully lightweight. They tip the scales at 138g for the set. Another benefit of their carbon construction is the latitude it gave SRAM to craft them in such an aerodynamic profile.

SRAM's bar end shifters are indexed for rear shifting. They utilize the same Exact Actuation technology as SRAM's DoubleTap levers. No matter where your derailleur is positioned, one shift moves the identical distance of cable -- giving you the crispest possible shifting throughout the range. Just like Shimano and Campagnolo, you get friction front shifting here.

The shift levers themselves are carbon, while the top cover is made from durable anodized aluminum, and it clamps inside your bars using an internal alloy expander. SRAM designed these levers to be compatible with all models of TT bars.

Given that the rear shifter utilizes Exact Actuation technology, SRAM recommends that you use these levers only with a SRAM drivetrain -- Red, Force or Rival. These levers come with a set of Teflon coated stainless shift cables.