Originally Posted by
Jed19
Cyclists who have never been on a Dura-Ace Di2 equipped bicycle should go and test-ride it, then they can opine in a very knowledgeable manner about electronic-assisted shifting.
As I see it, while it's okay to philosophyically lament the move away from "the simple nature of bicycles", there is absolutely no doubt that electronic-assisted shifting is an unbelievable improvement over what we have now.
Also, just imagine the possibilities moving forward......
If an innovation lets you get more, and I mean much more, from your cycling experience, then what is all the fuss about. I mean, even luddites came to learn that you get on with the program.
I think electronic-assisted shifting is unbelievable for what it has brought (and will still bring) to cycling.
Maybe your post was aimed at me based on my above post, I don't know. If so, as I said in my first line: I get it.
I know it works better, I know it's awesome. My problem is that it introduces an outside power source into the drivetrain of a bicycle. And I realize that I'm overthinking things and that most folks who actually use it will love it. In fact, I used it on a test ride, and was very impressed. It will be awesome to get the Di2 bikes in that we're expecting, should be an exciting product to sell.
And yes, of course, technological changes have always come about, and always will, and in the end they work better or they fade away. It's all good. The difference with electronic shifting is that it's battery powered, not human powered, and yet it's part of the drivetrain of the bicycle.
I hope it catches on bigtime and sells like crazy. But I still have a problem with it. For now. But I've been known to change my mind.