sorry...electronic for now

i've heard that comment from many people...until they've ridden it.

it's not for everyone, mind you, but it is pretty amazing how peoples' impression changes. a buddy of mine just ordered a bike with di2. he'd test-ridden one (and had a bunch of negative things to say about it; coincidentally he didn't have the money for it at the time). whaddya know? his next bike's got it.

i'm biased as i've been riding electronic going into my 6th season. didn't think shifting got any better than da/red/super record (mechanical).

(seriously, though, some people love mechanical and will always...i get that.)

Next year is only like my 5th year riding. 10s Red Cables 4eva.

I prefer the cable stuff, but after a full year of riding, my index fingers would ache pretty bad after longer rides.

I'd get electric shifting for a right price, and I'd prefer it, but it's not more of a benefit to me than, say, a tt frame, so it's pretty far down my wish list.

I don't actually care. I fear what I don't understand in that I know how to install and adjust cabled systems. I've never played with electronic at all.

+1 Di2 is awesome.

That being said, the tipping point to pony up for it hasn't arrived for me yet. Better marginal utility in fast wheels and better consumables.

I was like many. I said I would never switch to electric. Then I got a chance for a smoking deal. I have a bike built with 10s red and dura ace di2. I will probably never ride mechanical again. I rarely use the small ring and the adjusting feature in the front dérailleur is the coolest thing ever. That and switching gears under full (800+ watts) load while climbing and you don't feel the shift. Oh yeah and if I have to go into the small ring dumping the front and rear at the same time without missing a stroke is amazing.
Next addition? Sprint and climbing shifters.
Love my di2.

My first generation 10-spd Red RD is toast. Any reason, other than a few grams, to get Red to replace it? Force or even Rival seems like a better option.

Since we can all agree that the Quarq is the best PM out there I'd like to swap my GXP over to BB30 to fit in a Venge frameset.

Looks like it is a simple spider swap, but I wonder if it then needs to be recalibrated?? Same arm length and same rings, just different arms. @tetonrider ..any thoughts?

how much better is shifting under load on a di2 than a mechanical setup? or what's the difference?

Yes I would think it would need recalibration. I have a set of WM adapters if needed.

Much, much better. The motor pushes the cage an order of magnitude harder than your puny hands and levers and cables can. It can make for bad habits, because it doesn't punish you for shifting like an idiot.

What's thought on adapters? Pretty much no performance loss over a direct fit crankset? Also, I assume they're basically plug & play & go?

agreed.. it's really noticeable. Sometimes may hands get on the numb side after long descents or climbs and when I rode mechanical I would just not bother shifting.. with electronic I just tap and go even though I can barely feel the button.

electronic shifting is in fact WAY better under load - and I'm using new 11s shimano with the fancy FD and crankset.

My opinion is I prefer the native crank but the adapters aren't bad. Not worth trading out for unless you get an opportunity to do so.

thinkfast@quarq.com

they will answer you asap and give you legit answers about whatever. there's no need to speculate.

where's the fun in that?

edit: email sent

I have the adapters on two bikes. I can't tell the difference. Very easy to install.

I'm supposed to get a new Venge this week. I'm told there are adapters for the DA 9000 cranks. Anyone know where to get them or have any comments?

Also does the Venge have a Ceramic BB?

My crux came with the shimano adapters. I think that might be typical now. Whoever you are getting the frame from should know.

My Venge did as well.

IME, it is worth doing a slope-check (true recalibration) when any change happens on a quarq -- even changing rings to others of the same size/type. (yeah, i know "omnical" and all, but my own testing suggests that the slope can and does change.) in theory, changing the spindle doesn't affect the spider, but it's an integral part of the system.

a slope test is simple--about 5 minutes if taking one's time.

how long have you owned your quarq? if it's been a few years, it's worth it to just check the slope anyway, and this change could be a good trigger -- true for any meter.

you have one of the titanium cage versions, then? if so, they can be flexy and yield to poor shifts; in that respect, the force one is actually better (performance-wise, at the expense of a few grams). however, if you never noticed problems maybe you can get away with using it on your setup.

significantly.

di2 also exposes "flexy" chainrings due to the powerful shifts. i don't believe that mortals can tell any loss in power from one chainring to the next, but flexy chainrings can cause poor shifting and/or dropped chains (people more often blame the FD than the rings, IME).

the shimano rings tend to shift the best with di2 when i've done comparisons with all else equal (same bike, same drivetrain/FD/crank arms....only change was the rings). even solid rings (like the specialized ones) and reportedly stiffer "Sprinter" sram rings are not quite as good. there's a measure of subjectivity there, but it is noticeable if doing the comparison.