Electronic shifting

[PJ79LIZARD]

In cycling plus a few bikes reviewed like colnago clx 3.0 have electronic shifting, how does this exactly work?

 

[HLaB]

Google Shimano Di2 and you'll get lots of info, here one review, a bloke in the club has it and it certainly doesn't seem to slow him down

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

I've just been reading it lol, well I guess time will tell if it takes off. Well cost and benefits are bound to play there part. If it is just a novelty thing with no real improvement then it will deffinately nose dive, time will tell.

 

[screenman]

It is unlikely the likes of Shimano would have invested in R&D to let it nose dive.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Within the next five years it will be commonplace. Once it works it's way down the groupsets and production gets into full swing it will be as affordable as integrated shifters have become, bearing in mind how much they initially cost when production was limited to the top of the range.

The technology is as simple as that in a calculator.

 

[ianrauk]

Within the next five years it will be commonplace. Once it works it's way down the groupsets and production gets into full swing it will be as affordable as integrated shifters have become, bearing in mind how much they initially cost when production was limited to the top of the range.

The technology is as simple as that in a calculator.

Yup agree with that. It has already worked it's way down to Ultegra.
This stuff is here to stay and having seen it in action close up on one of this forum members very own bikes. It's quality stuff.

 

[StuAff]

It is unlikely the likes of Shimano would have invested in R&D to let it nose dive.

+1. Shimano is a huge operation, far bigger than SRAM or Campagnolo (and cycling is only one part of its business), but it certainly wouldn't have spent as much time and effort as it has on Di2 to leave it as a 'hobby' or niche product, let alone for it to fail. Electronic Super Record (or whatever Campag decides to call it) will be out early 2012, and notwithstanding SRAM's alleged stance against electronic shifting is almost certainly a marketing strategy to prepare for whatever electronic (or perhaps hydraulic) product they eventually launch. It has a record of innovation in gearing technology to match the other two, I can't see them letting that go....

 

[cyberknight]

It looks good but to me i cannot see any benefit over a well set up mechanical system.

They are here to stay , at least it works better than mavic`s attempt to do the same system in the 1990`s that never took off .

 

[dan_bo]

I would like a go that's for sure.

 

[StuAff]

It looks good but to me i cannot see any benefit over a well set up mechanical system.

They are here to stay , at least it works better than mavic`s attempt to do the same system in the 1990`s that never took off .

No benefit? Well, self-trimming? Never having to replace a derailleur cable ever again?

 

[potsy]

I would like a go that's for sure.

I'd give it 5 minutes before you broke it

 

[cyberknight]

No benefit? Well, self-trimming? Never having to replace a derailleur cable ever again?

How often do you have to trim? i cant say i ever need to .I cannot say anything about replacing cables as i was purely talking about function rather than maintenance.
It remains to be seen how much better then electronics will work when it gets sub zero and the electronics start to suffer from increased resistance due to the temperature.

 

[dan_bo]

Nonono Pottsy. It would take me five minutes to set it up in a slapdash, half-arsed manner and end up stuffing the rear mech into the back wheel on widdop or somewhere else otherwise known as the arse end of nowhere. You knows it.

 

[actonblue]

it is impressive stuff in the way that the front derailleur self trims so that it is impossible to make a bad change.
I could not justify the cost for a mere recreational cyclist like myself but I can see the advantages for the competitive cyclist battling in a sprint.
So now you have Ui2 not long for the 105 version.

 

[Smokin Joe]

It remains to be seen how much better then electronics will work when it gets sub zero and the electronics start to suffer from increased resistance due to the temperature.

I've ridden motorcycles which are packed with electronics in sub-zero temperatures, torrential rain, freezing sleet and snow and they never missed a beat despite being subject to far more vibration than you ever get on a bicycle.

What's so special about a bicycle gear system that an electronic control system that is no more advanced than those that Scalextric cars have been using since the 1950's won't work?