Free equipment is NOT sponsorship. Getting paid thousands of dollars and signing agreements is sponsorship. My point that was AG2R is that the One of 17 World Tour Teams that used SRAM was paid a lot to do it. Some 4 were paid by Shimano. And 3-4 paid by Campagnolo. That leaves 7 or so that had to choose any free stuff they wanted. They chose Shimano.

You don't have both do you?

Of course it is by any definition.
Also true although if you're referring to a named team like Giant-Shimano it's millions not thousands.
Makes sense to choose the most popular groupset out there from a support perspective. I suspect that given Shimano's market dominance they can afford to offer a better deal to anyone using their components.

Mostly Campy on my roadbikes with SRAM on a cross bike and XTR on a mountain bike. Those using SRAM red seem happy with it. Selection of any of the top component groups is primarily personal preference. None are going to make the difference in a bike race.

Well nice to know my son has been sponsored by Shimano since age 8. Giant-Shimano is not a World Tour team. Campy is great stuff. But you are arguing about something you don't have. I made my comments after dealing with lots of kids bikes that use both. I'm sure the eTap will be great. I will wait a bit.

It was until Shimano pulled their funding. Now it's Giant-Alpecin.

I was only commenting on the use of components by Pro teams, not your personal preference. Some prefer SRAM, some prefer Shimano.

True. I just used current 2015 World Tour teams. "Some" is no World Tour team that is not paid.

2013 SRAM RED lever parts are not interchangeable with 2014 SRAM RED. 2015 - different again. Shimano's are - many with Ultegra. SRAM does not have or sell a full UCI complaint group for all UCI categories, Shimano does.
It is just a different market. When SRAM support is present I have to give them spares - and I get attitude (right I don't like them). Shimano support caries spares for even some MAVIC - pedals for example.
That may not affect rec cyclist, but the SRAM focus is different.

Hey dudes, has anyone seen any info on eTap compatibility with disc brakes, both mechanical and hydraulic? I can't seem to find anything.

I've only seen mechanical so far.

Yeah that's kinda what I was guessing.

I'm not sure I've wanted a cycling related thing before it's even available as much as this group. Anyone else?

Meh

It's time for Shimano to update their Dura-Ace line (they're on a 3-year cycle, right?). Will be interesting to see what they do with the Di2 (either going wireless or doubling down and improving on their wired system).

The wired system works quite well. Wireless is a step ahead, as long as recharges are not needed frequently. Not that I will be getting eTap soon (I just bought my hydro disc DA di2 for the new bike) but I am interested in seeing how well it works. I cannot help but think that wireless is Shimano's next game.

It has to be. Sram changed the game with wireless done right. Now it will be about improving the tech. Lighter, aesthetics, longer battery life, cheaper, etc etc.

That's a lot of praise for a company that has had a lot of years to watch other companies do electronic shifting first and who hasn't even delivered a group to a normal customer yet.

There, I fixed your misquote.

Not a misquote. 'wireless done right' could have been replaced with anything. Fact is they waited a long time to get into the game and they haven't delivered anything yet.

Actually it was but we'll agree to disagree. And I really think you're splitting hairs. This group has been out in the wild for a long time. Now, if by some weird circumstance Sram fails to deliver a single group through retail channels then, yeah, they didn't change anything. But since that's looking highly unlikely I'm sticking with my guns.

I think his point is you only have marketing and consumer conjecture so far. A real (unpaid) consumer review won't be possible for a while because even after finally getting an eTap group you'll have to ride it for a while to form a solid opinion. Until then any praise is just hype (which I'm sure SRAM welcomes ).

I can't recall a groupset being hyped this much before being released, can you?

More that Di2?

eTap has been talked about and hyped for almost 4 years.

But you can forgive it because it's so game changing

I hope someone will notify us when the UK sellers show stock of e-tap. I'm also hoping there will be a mini-group available as a package: levers and buttons, derailleurs, cassette, and chain. No brakes or crank. Actually just derailleurs, levers and buttons would be good for me. I don't use SRAM chains and can source my own cassette separately. Is that too personalized to expect?