Electronic shifting - interesting observation
 

I was on a group ride today and noticed something interesting near the end of the ride. There were 8 of us left and I knew all of them. They all ride between 8-12k miles a year. For our area, they are all considered "A" riders.

There were 3 bikes with etap and 3 with Di2. Only 2 mechanical. Is that ratio common based on rides in your area?

I just never thought electronic shifting would be so popular so fast.

Have you tried Di2? Use Di2 for 500+ miles, and then tell me what you think.

I'm one of the guys with etap and am very satisfied. I was just shocked at the % of electronic at the end of todays ride.

Well, it doesn't exactly sound like a random sampling.

My Di2 rig is one of 5 or so Di2 rigs known to LBSes in the entire county.

The numbers would increase a lot quicker if manufacturers didn't charge a $2k premium for Di2 where the parts premium is a fraction of that.

I was on a group ride recently, and we hit an unexpected very short, steep climb at a bend in the road. All the riders climbing while seated, in a reasonable gear, had electric shifting. The rest were grinding up in a way too high gear. The instant and drama free front and rear shifts are really nice on rides with lots of small rollers, or on these sudden situations.

A couple of years ago, even one or two Di2 bikes out of 12-20 riders was somewhat unusual. Now I notice maybe two to six on a ride of that size.

I rode Di2 Ultegra for a season. Couldn't get it off the bike fast enough at the end of the season. Switched the bike to mechanical DA and was MUCH happier. But all my cars are manual transmission so I wasn't too surprised.

Di2 has been around since 2009.


-Tim-

Funny, but my Subaru shifts quicker and gets better MPG with the CVT vs the manual. All modern race cars have electronic shifting.

Di2 is full a manual transmission

I always shifted a lot. But I shift a lot more now. I'll shift when I know I'll have to shift again 20 seconds later, because it's like you said. Got 40 miles in today, shifted the RD 1,138 times. (So says my Garmin. I'm sure it counts each cog as a shift when you go a few gears at a time.) I'm always in the right gear.

Bunch of rollers? God I love auto-trim.

Yeah, even if front shifting is improving, it is still is the weak link in mechanical, to the point many are still reluctant to shift the rings unless they absolutely must. I see this all the time, grinding in the big ring up the hills, cross chaining and stop/start in the big ring. The long lever throw (shimano), when shifting from the drops, is an other issue (mostly for the girls), - Definitely DI is better even if mechanical is very good too.

Some people still enjoy the feel of using a clutch pedal and physically moving the shifter from gear to gear. I miss it, but not in the city I drive in now.

True, but it's less efficient.

I just converted my DA 9100 to 9150 and love it (so far anyway). I drive a manual e46 ZHP. Best of both worlds!

On a 7 person group ride a few weeks ago, I was the only one with Di2, but I was also the ONLY one with rim brakes!

Sub-thread: What's the Di2 to disc brake ratio in your groups?

Unexpected? Really? Was there a leader, was there any planning? Group rides I do the leader and perhaps others will give verbal warnings en route.. gravel, bad pavement ahead, tight turn, small ring, etc.

Agreed... you should of heard someone yell out GEAR DOWN, HILL.