Originally Posted by
seypat
This brings to mind another somewhat related technology advancement I was thinking about the other day. As some of you know, I am a friction shifting, barcon and triple crank rider. My latest bike build project is stalled because I am thinking of putting STIs/brifters on it. I can't get myself to do it. Here's why. I also donate blood/platelets once a month. Type O+ so universal donor. They call every 2 weeks and hound me until I go in and donate. I'm glad to do it since it helps other people live. How does this relate to smart watches, new technology and shifting gears. Well, I'll tell you in the next post.
If you are donating platelets, you have to sit on a Trima machine for a period of time. When the machine is in draw mode, you have to squeeze a spong ball about every 5 seconds. Almost the same physical action/movement as shifting a brifter. After an hour of squeezing that ball, my forearm muscles are extremely tight. My wrist has lost most of it's ability to squeeze. Same problem when I have tried brifters in the past. So, I will stick with friction and barcons.
The point is, new technology is whatever you want to make it to be. Give it a try. Maybe it works for you. Maybe it doesn't.