Electronic shifting thoughts.

[Seevio]

Who has tried electronic shifting? Did you think it was worth it?

I thought it was just an unnecessary bit of tech but in a bike shop recently I used it for the first time and it seemed to be a game changer.

 

[ColinJ]

I thought it was just an unnecessary bit of tech...

I currently do too...

... but in a bike shop recently I used it for the first time and it seemed to be a game changer.

... so explain why, and try to convert the rest of us?

 

[Seevio]

I'm not trying to convert you or anyone. I am aware that there are people here that think downtube friction shifting is the way to go. Good on them. It's not for me.

In my very brief test it seemed to be very quick and very exact however there is obviously a cost involved. I was asking people who have used it if they thought it was worth it. If you haven't used it, cool story bro, but you're not telling me anything.

 

[ColinJ]

If you haven't used it, cool story bro, but you're not telling me anything.

Ice cold story 'bro' - you used it (despite thinking that it would be a waste of money), were surprised by how good it was (but couldn't be bothered to tell the rest of us why), and then asked other people if they thought it was worth the money (as if you can't make your own mind up without their help).

Anyway enjoy it if you buy it.

 

[Drago]

Tried it.

Did not dislike it. Simply didnt think it brought anything to the table for me. It wasn't going to make me one iota quicker.

Others may love it, fair play.

I also don't wear a digital or smartwatch.

 

[Paulus]

I haven't got a bike worthy of electronic shifting, but i can see maybe if you are a keen racer it maybe of benefit but on day to day riding I don't think it brings any benefits over existing mechanical systems.

 

[PaulSB]

@Seevio to actually answer your question. I have di2 on two of my three bikes. Would I go back to manual? No. Is it a necessity? No. Is it a gamechanger? No, but................

I was resistant to electronic shifting for many years, initially based around cost and is it really necessary? As time passed my resistance probably grew based on the real world experience of friends and fellow club members. I was forever hearing stories of "my di2 packed up," " I ran out of battery," "the bikes been laid up for a week or more." These stories deterred me from making the change. Now I'm a user I understand the majority of issues are down to what I will describe as "user error." These I have experienced or heard from others:

My battery ran out - did you check it the night before? Shifter batteries, this is a good one. I've met people who didn't know they existed, don't know the battery type or that you need a screwdriver to open the battery cover. I haven't got a spare battery. How do I check the battery level? Etc. Some will argue the foregoing are a reason not to use di2. Just more things to check. I fully understand the view but would argue that once correctly set up none of these points should be an issue. I feel these points are largely "user error." Everything surrounding a bike needs to be learned and set up correctly initially.

Why am I a convert? In June 2024 I had a major RTC, amongst my injuries were three broken fingers on my right hand. My consultant happened to be a keen cyclist. He advised my fingers might become stiff and uncomfortable on longer rides and/or in cold weather. He advised I explore di2. He was right about the stiffness but wrong about the cold weather. The bike which replaced my written off Kinesis was equipped with di2. A key factor in my recent decision to buy another new bike was a desire to have di2 on my main road bike.

I see the benefits as crisper, faster and smoother shifting; rapid changing when one has got the selection wrong; I ride a lot of gravel and this rapid change can be very helpful; very, very rarely is any adjustment needed; fewer dropped chains (I'm bad at this); it's pretty much silent; there is less "thought and/or action" involved, just a click and that's it.

Some peripheral fluffy stuff I enjoy. My Wahoo displays the current gear selection and records every gear change. This data is interesting to study and to learn from. The Wahoo also displays and gives warning for low battery levels.

Criticisms? The Shimano app is very poor. I get all my data from my Wahoo. The location of the rear deraileur charging point is poor; the cover can easily open/fail to close properly leaving the charging point exposed. The charging cable attaches "upside down" meaning the cable is bent over at the point where it attaches to the "head" that connects to the deraileur, a potential weakness. The mode button on the rear deraileur is small, difficult to locate and can be tricky to use. So far the only battery information I've been able to get direct from Shimano is green = 11% or more, red = 11% or less - so is that 1% or 11%? BIG difference. I've given up on all the Shimano related data. Wahoo is hugely superior on this aspect.

Is it necessary? Definitely not. Does it improve my overall cycling experience? Without doubt and I would not go back to manual. One might compare it with car air conditioning. Completely unnecessary but once you've had it you'll never buy a car without.

These are just my thoughts and personal experience. I know plenty will dismiss some or all. I love it. Electronic shifting for me is without doubt a big leap forward in gearing

 

[Norry1]

I resisted it for ages, thinking it was just one more thing that could go wrong. However once I moved to it - I found I loved it. The shift stays constant (no cable stretch), easier to shift multiple gears in one go - you can use the buttons on top of the hoods to shift as well. Garmin tells you which cog(s) you are in.

Downside is cost and the need to remember to charge it occasionally.

 

[PaulSB]

Oh, always be careful not to store your bike with a lever pressed against a wall.................DAMHIK

 

[Norry1]

@Seevio to actually answer your question. I have di2 on two of my three bikes. Would I go back to manual? No. Is it a necessity? No. Is it a gamechanger? No, but................

I was resistant to electronic shifting for many years, initially based around cost and is it really necessary? As time passed my resistance probably grew based on the real world experience of friends and fellow club members. I was forever hearing stories of "my di2 packed up," " I ran out of battery," "the bikes been laid up for a week or more." These stories deterred me from making the change. Now I'm a user I understand the majority of issues are down to what I will describe as "user error." These I have experienced or heard from others:

My battery ran out - did you check it the night before? Shifter batteries, this is a good one. I've met people who didn't know they existed, don't know the battery type or that you need a screwdriver to open the battery cover. I haven't got a spare battery. How do I check the battery level? Etc. Some will argue the foregoing are a reason not to use di2. Just more things to check. I fully understand the view but would argue that once correctly set up none of these points should be an issue. I feel these points are largely "user error." Everything surrounding a bike needs to be learned and set up correctly initially.

Why am I a convert? In June 2024 I had a major RTC, amongst my injuries were three broken fingers on my right hand. My consultant happened to be a keen cyclist. He advised my fingers might become stiff and uncomfortable on longer rides and/or in cold weather. He advised I explore di2. He was right about the stiffness but wrong about the cold weather. The bike which replaced my written off Kinesis was equipped with di2. A key factor in my recent decision to buy another new bike was a desire to have di2 on my main road bike.

I see the benefits as crisper, faster and smoother shifting; rapid changing when one has got the selection wrong; I ride a lot of gravel and this rapid change can be very helpful; very, very rarely is any adjustment needed; fewer dropped chains (I'm bad at this); it's pretty much silent; there is less "thought and/or action" involved, just a click and that's it.

Some peripheral fluffy stuff I enjoy. My Wahoo displays the current gear selection and records every gear change. This data is interesting to study and to learn from. The Wahoo also displays and gives warning for low battery levels.

Criticisms? The Shimano app is very poor. I get all my data from my Wahoo. The location of the rear deraileur charging point is poor; the cover can easily open/fail to close properly leaving the charging point exposed. The charging cable attaches "upside down" meaning the cable is bent over at the point where it attaches to the "head" that connects to the deraileur, a potential weakness. The mode button on the rear deraileur is small, difficult to locate and can be tricky to use. So far I've only been able to get battery information direct from Shimano as green = 11% or more, red = 11% or less - so is that 1% or 11%? BIG difference. I've given up on all the Shimano related data. Wahoo is hugely superior on this aspect.
- they
Is it necessary? Definitely not. Does it improve my overall cycling experience? Without doubt and I would not go back to manual. One might compare it with car air conditioning. Completely unnecessary but once you've had it you'll never buy a car without.

These are just my thoughts and personal experience. I know plenty will dismiss some or all. I love it. Electronic shifting for me is without doubt a big leap forward in gearing

Much better put than me

By the way, you can buy some tiny inserts for the mode buttons for peanuts on Ali Express - makes it very easy to use.

Search for - RISK Road Bicycle Electronic Shift Lever Custom Button Washer for UT8170 / DA9270 Bike Derailleur System, 3D Printed Polymers

 

[esoxlucius]

Will there not come a time where the choice is taken out of our hands by bike manufacturers? We've seen it with disc brakes. How many years before electronic shifting is the norm on all bikes?

I've never tried electronic shifting. I believe the advantages over manual are that you get a more precise shift and it's quicker too? Anything else?

If I take the example of my 105 shifting on my Merida, it is precise enough and quick enough for an old dude like me for sure. The advantages of electronic over my current 105, to me, would seem to be minimal. So I'm in no hurry to change.

But like I said, when I do eventually get my next new shiny bike (no plans yet, not for a good while probably) when I do eventually come to choose one it may well be electronic by standard by that time.

 

[Mike_P]

Will there not come a time where the choice is taken out of our hands by bike manufacturers? We've seen it with disc brakes. How many years before electronic shifting is the norm on all bikes?

I've never tried electronic shifting. I believe the advantages over manual are that you get a more precise shift and it's quicker too? Anything else?

If I take the example of my 105 shifting on my Merida, it is precise enough and quick enough for an old dude like me for sure. The advantages of electronic over my current 105, to me, would seem to be minimal. So I'm in no hurry to change.

But like I said, when I do eventually get my next new shiny bike (no plans yet, not for a good while probably) when I do eventually come to choose one it may well be electronic by standard by that time.

Its the cost issue thats going to deter it from becoming the default unless it comes down significantly. Currently I look at the electric bits and think Shimano etc are making a hell of a profit. Be interesting if anyone has had a stab at what the parts actually cost.
On most products you would get competitors moving in offering equivalents at a lower price forcing the price down generally. Would that happen with these?

 

[oxoman]

My gravelbike came with sram wireless 1x gears and yes its nice and ive enjoyed using it. However after 2 yrs im selling the bike and ive gone back to STI shifters, mainly for simplicity and saves me getting paranoid about loss of battery or drowning the rear mech when out on mildly moist rides. Plus I couldn't get the gear range I wanted with 1x for me gravel / touring bike.