Hi all.
Interesting, old discussion. A bit sorry for reopening, but I think I might add a slight pebble into the garden ;-)


I'd switched recently from my old 3x10 Deore SLX trekking bike into SRAM's Eagle 1x12 eMTB. I was SHOCKED, when I'd figured that it misses the gear indicator. The transition is very hard to me because of that.
At first, I didn't notice, just riding around and getting used to the bike and having fun. Not really care for the gears, just aligning them with my legs feeling. But then I rode for a ride across the nearby hills. And then I noticed...
Initially, I thought that this is just a crappy SX switcher that lacks it. Then I checked upper classes and there is none as well!
So I'd also compared higher MTB gear from Shimano, finding, to my amusement, that it's completely gone as well. I was so shocked to my findings, that I started wondering (same as Colonel ;-)) why people would like to not have the indicator... And found this thread... :-D

I can agree with many posts, after riding my old bike for so many years, that I totally accustomed to how it behaves, to almost never look on the indicators and just drive it by feel. I totally buy it.

Yet switching to a totally different kind of bike, gear system, and even different riding philosophy is a "bit" overwhelming to figure out.

I'm quite accustomed to gently switching gears while climbing (I'm not racing, so why care of a small lost top a speed) to accommodate for my solid (over)weight and lack of constitution. I also very often haul a carrier with my youngest adding to the mess (and how much extra dragging force I must overcome).
So while still learning a new gear system I really miss access for fast information - where I'm on my cassette now! Mostly to know, how much climbing force BUFFER do I still have. Can I still switch to a lower a gear if needed? Or more? Or the only option left is to crank motor into the Turbo mode? What if it's already in Turbo? Maybe it's just too steep to continue, and instead of wasting my energy pedaling, I'd better just start walking already?
It's just few glances + hearing how the motor sounds to figure out - "I'm already at max boost, I had only two gears left, but my legs / lungs are close to the limit, and speed is already low. Better jump off now, instead of trying more, to not over force myself, or even loose traction, so we both fall down."

Yeah, I guess, that when few months pass I will be laughing at my current dilemma. But now, lack of this small piece of information when transiting to new riding style is just sad. Probably is not worth adding it for everyone...

And I do not buy "breaking piece" argument for shifters without indicator - mine never broke, neither I ever hear of shifter malfunction; not without earlier total disaster at the derailleur side ;-)