Tandem Cycling - Di2 option for Santana Team and Beyond modells

I found a quite interesting option for the 2010 Team- and Beyond- models in Europe/Germany. You can purchase and upgrade to the Shimano Dura Ace Di2 (20s; 11-30) for 2.000$. I’m really not a Shimano enthusiast, but I can imagine a benefit in front shifting. What about this Santana-offer in America?

Not yet, Max . . .

Not yet, Max . . .I was up at Santana Central a couple months ago and they were selling it here in the US.
We played with one on a workstand in the shop that was to be Wayne Stetina's bike we were told. Very precise shifting all through from high to low.
I myself don't like the big jumps of the 11/30 and think a compact setup would suit me better.

I was up at Santana Central a couple months ago and they were selling it here in the US.

In fact, in checking with Bill McCready at Santana today just to be sure I had my facts straight, the optional "tandem-specific Shimano-approved" Di2 shifting has been available in the US since October.

Moreover, Shimano has a Santana Beyond Di2 test mule in their possession that is being used for additional refinements. The most recent change in the Santana Di2 is a revised standard, wide range 11-32 cassette with the buyer's choice of 50/34 compact rings, 53/39 pro rings, or a 'switch hitter' (my term) set-up with an extra self-extracting Octalink carbon drive-side crank and second (shorter) chain that will allow them to switch between "compact/climbing" and "pro" gearing in ten minutes or less. Bill also noted that because the "pro" crankarm supports a granny ring, it should support a future upgrade to an expected triple Shimano Di2 (3?) system.

As you can imagine, everyone at Santana is pretty excited by the Di2 system and believe that other component makers will eventually release similar push-button / paddle shifting systems in the not too distant future in much the same way that integrated shifting became the standard many years back.

Here is a review ride report on a Di2 equipped machine, (since sold):


"You've read about it, I've ridden it. I've received one of the first
Di2-equipped Santana's shipped, a PHD-framed Santana Beyond. I
unboxed it, set it up to my measurements, installed the battery,
added my pedals and Susan's pedals, and took it out for a short
"shake-down" cruise of 4-5 miles through the neighborhood around our
shop. I quickly adapted to the push-button shifting, and discovered
that I needed to tweak the rear derailleur adjustment slightly. Back
to the shop. Open the instruction book (why didn't I take better
notes at Interbike???), and a few taps on the lever and it seemed to
be in perfect adjustment. Another 2-3 miles around the neighborhood
confirmed it was now spot on.

The next day, Susan and I headed out on one of our favorite 30-mile
rides, some flats, some short, but noticeable hills. The bike shifted
flawlessly. In fact, I don't think it could have worked any better.
Normally on this ride, a new tandem would require some minor
adjustments at the end of the ride, as the cables would have
stretched slightly. Not so with the Di2! No cables/no minor
adjustments required.

Say what you want about mixing/matching components, but this mix of
parts works extremely well. Santana found the Shimano parts in the
catalog that allowed the Di2 levers/batterypack/shifters to be
installed on a tandem. They paired the Di2 stuff with their carbon
Octalink crank and an 11/30 10-sp rear cassetter, made by the same
company that makes IRD 10-sp cassettes. It all works as if it was
designed together!

35 miles isn't the longest test ride, but this is a demo bike in our
shop. I need to keep the miles down, at least until I sell our
current ride (a 2009 Santana Sovereign, Medium Scandium frame, S&S
couplers). Then I can justify making the 2010 Beyond our daily rider!

The double-crank isn't for everyone, but for the go-fast crowd who
travels light, the 39/30 low gear should be adequate for most
terrain. And as one of my customers said, "I've never found a hill I
couldn't walk!" Those who prefer a bike set up for loaded touring
might prefer to stay with cable-operated 3x10 setups, at least until
the "Di3" arrives. "


Jack Goertz
Tandems, Ltd
Birmingham, AL

I think the Di2 is a great concept for a Tandem given the long derailleur cable lengths. However without a triple option - it's worthless to us.

...the optional "tandem-specific Shimano-approved" Di2 shifting has been available in the US since October...As you can imagine, everyone at Santana is pretty excited by the Di2 system...

The excitement hasn't spilled over onto their website.

Your search - di2 site:http://santanatandem.com - did not match any documents.
(http://www.google.com/search?q=di2+site%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fsantanatandem.com&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a)

Di2 does appear on a European Santana price list (http://www.santana-tandem.de/de/akt/E10Price.pdf), for $2000.

The excitement hasn't spilled over onto their website.

Yeah, I noticed that too... but that's not all that unusual; Santana has not fully embraced the Web-based commerce / marketing model.

My sense over the years has been that Santana wants visitors and interested parties to "send for a catalog or give us a call so we can send you a catalog", which they do religously. And, once you're on their mailing list you're always on their mailing list. Interestingly enough, last time I checked, just as it was in '96.... when somone receives that catalog they also typically receive a contact form for their nearest authorized dealer. In other words, Santana has always been focused on building relationships and getting it's catalog into the hands of consumers: the catalog does a very good job of selling the tandem lifestyle and pumping up the Santana brand, albeit with a lot of over the top marketing spin.

In regard to the latter, their Annual Tandems & Tandeming Catazine should be coming out pretty soon and just judging by what Bill sent me yesterday, I suspect some of what I read was cut and pasted out of the new catazine. Once that is on the street the Web site typically gets an update... and well, all heck breaks loose on the tandem forums as folks dissect the aforementioned over the top marketing spin.