Electronic Shifting
Discussion
Looking for experiences of Di2 and SRAM etap users.
Reliability, ease of use/adjustment, battery life, quality etc
Son is contemplating a new Giant TCR Adv Pro for the new race season, and it’s going to mean electronic shifting and hydraulic brakes. Both new to me and him.
Models come with either Ultegra or SRAM Force.
Thanks in advance
Reliability, ease of use/adjustment, battery life, quality etc
Son is contemplating a new Giant TCR Adv Pro for the new race season, and it’s going to mean electronic shifting and hydraulic brakes. Both new to me and him.
Models come with either Ultegra or SRAM Force.
Thanks in advance
Last bike has SRAM axis force and current bike has di2 105. Both are great, for me SRAM just wins as batteries can be charged off bike and single button each side is very easy to use. (But always found front mech hard to adjust perfectly, compared to Shimano stuff very sensitive to be exactly set up correctly).
I will never, ever go back to a bike with mechanical shifting.
I've had both Di2 + Etap, both perform more or less the same - I'd say Shimano has slightly smoother shifting but I think Sram has better ergonomics and I prefer how shifting works. With electronic gears it always just works, once it's set up unless you bash your derailleur or something then it just works, no cable stretch, no muck stuck in cable housings, no indexing, electronic is instant and it's precise.
I've had both Di2 + Etap, both perform more or less the same - I'd say Shimano has slightly smoother shifting but I think Sram has better ergonomics and I prefer how shifting works. With electronic gears it always just works, once it's set up unless you bash your derailleur or something then it just works, no cable stretch, no muck stuck in cable housings, no indexing, electronic is instant and it's precise.
I've put about 5000km on 8070 Ultegra Di2. Love always spot on shifting with semi-synchro enabled to smooth out the jump when shifting rings at the front. Also like having the top 'hidden' buttons on the shifters set to shift up/down on the back.
Only problem I've had was a pivot on the front mech sheared 30km into a 100km sportive, leaving me stuck in the granny. My chain snapped on the same ride as well
Only fix was £170 for a new mech. Ow.
Only problem I've had was a pivot on the front mech sheared 30km into a 100km sportive, leaving me stuck in the granny. My chain snapped on the same ride as well
Only fix was £170 for a new mech. Ow.BOR said:
Is there any comparison between using a manual gearbox in a car compared to a paddle shift?
Do you lose any feeling of "connection" on a bike with electronic shifting?
hmm, the comparison is like using a nice crisp manual gearbox in a 2022 car or using a manual gearbox from the 19780s which is slightly a slipping.Do you lose any feeling of "connection" on a bike with electronic shifting?
Had Di2 on my summer bike for 2 years now and love it.
Effortless shifting that shifts perfectly every time.
Only ever had two issues with it which were both my fault. One was the wireless adaptor was mounted by the downtube and unplugged (soon sorted by moving it into the bar end) and the second was running out of battery. It notified me that I had 10% left and I assumed it would be enough for my ride. It wasn't, so I had to ride the last 30mins in the little ring (which is what it was in when it ran out)
Effortless shifting that shifts perfectly every time.
Only ever had two issues with it which were both my fault. One was the wireless adaptor was mounted by the downtube and unplugged (soon sorted by moving it into the bar end) and the second was running out of battery. It notified me that I had 10% left and I assumed it would be enough for my ride. It wasn't, so I had to ride the last 30mins in the little ring (which is what it was in when it ran out)
I ride with Ultegra Di2 on my summer bike and mechanical Ultegra on my winter bike and Di2 is great but I could easily ride with mechanical instead.
If I was building my summer bike again I would consider a mechanical groupset and buy an amazing pair of wheels instead, more likely to feel the benefit from the wheelset than Di2.
Never had any problems with Di2, only a flat battery as I leaned the bike against something in the garage which was pushing the shifter button for a couple of days! Quick 20 min charge and i was ready to go.
Connecting to a Garmin/Wahoo and seeing the number shifts etc. is interesting, flicking through the screens using the hidden buttons is also quite smart.
If he's likely to crash then bear in mind the Di2 parts are quite pricey.
If I was building my summer bike again I would consider a mechanical groupset and buy an amazing pair of wheels instead, more likely to feel the benefit from the wheelset than Di2.
Never had any problems with Di2, only a flat battery as I leaned the bike against something in the garage which was pushing the shifter button for a couple of days! Quick 20 min charge and i was ready to go.
Connecting to a Garmin/Wahoo and seeing the number shifts etc. is interesting, flicking through the screens using the hidden buttons is also quite smart.
If he's likely to crash then bear in mind the Di2 parts are quite pricey.
Have ulyegra di2 on my summer bike and manual ultra elsewhere.
No issues with di2 and prefer it in semi sync - so it jumps two rears cogs when I change the front cog.
Biggest advantage though for me is the removal of any faffing about getting the gears to work effectively, as indexing can be done automatically
No issues with di2 and prefer it in semi sync - so it jumps two rears cogs when I change the front cog.
Biggest advantage though for me is the removal of any faffing about getting the gears to work effectively, as indexing can be done automatically
Run both Ultegra and Dura Ace di2 currently and have run mechanical previously.
One of the bikes is disc also.
Wouldn’t go back to mechanical and prefer the disc brakes.
No issues with the di2. My computer tells me when the battery is low so never been caught out. (Get the little bluetooth thing that communicates with the computer… I like that it will also show me what gear I am in and you can set the hood buttons up to perform functions also).
I run it on fully manual. The sync shift is alright but I can avoid cross chaining myself, preferring full control.
Disc brakes need getting used to in terms cleaning and set up, but not difficult and I haven’t had the rubbing issues.
Not used SRAM, but I wouldn’t have a bike with it. I find it hard to find a reason not to have shimano.
It just works and makes for a much cleaner bike set up.
One of the bikes is disc also.
Wouldn’t go back to mechanical and prefer the disc brakes.
No issues with the di2. My computer tells me when the battery is low so never been caught out. (Get the little bluetooth thing that communicates with the computer… I like that it will also show me what gear I am in and you can set the hood buttons up to perform functions also).
I run it on fully manual. The sync shift is alright but I can avoid cross chaining myself, preferring full control.
Disc brakes need getting used to in terms cleaning and set up, but not difficult and I haven’t had the rubbing issues.
Not used SRAM, but I wouldn’t have a bike with it. I find it hard to find a reason not to have shimano.
It just works and makes for a much cleaner bike set up.
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