Originally Posted by
RGMN
You are right - more like day and nightmare. I rode Ultegra Di2 for a year and by the end of the season absolutely hated it. I missed the visceral feel of the shifting, being able to feel the moment the chain engaged the ramp in the cassette. I found that with the electronic shift I would have been happier riding a spin bike in front of the TV. It just took something critical away from why I like to ride. If you enjoy the electronic shift, great, I'm happy to hear it. But it isn't for me.
One of the ironies of all the car analogies being used is that I helped design a transmission control unit (the control electronics) used on a dual-clutch transmission that is in current production. I have plenty of miles on the proving grounds with dual-clutch transmissions. Paddle shifting is an interesting novelty but I'll take the 3 pedal option please.
The feel is definitely something for debate. But it seems like a lot of people who buck the trend of electronic gearing seem to be the same people who don't want disc brake because thats not the way it's been done.
Your example of being taken off the road completely and being better off on a spin bike is funny though. Electronic gearing doesn't take that much feeling out of the bike.