Originally Posted by
Steve B.
As well, consider replacement cost. A Shimano Di2 6870 rear derailleur is about $165. A mechanical 6800 is about $55-60. A Di2 internal battery at $130 that'll probably go 5 years ?. That's a lot of shifter cables.
As much as I might desire Di2 and can see moving towards it in time, the overall cost of everything is so much higher, makes me currently stick with mechanical.
i think this partly depends as well on how much you ride. I put in 7-8k miles a year, and so I'm generally putting on new cables 2-3x a season, new housing every winter, and a roll of $30 bar tape annually. Add in the cost of a $50 set of Park cable cutters to do this at home (or the labor cost to have your shop do it) and it adds up fast. In five years, I've already spent well beyond what Di2 would have cost in parts and labor to have mechanical, no doubt. I'm reminded of the pitfalls of mechanical each year when I rip off and throw away bar tape that still looks brand new.