Winnershsaint
Guru
Had Ultegra Di2 on No1 bike since 2015. About to go to disc brakes so new bike in the offing and groupset not transferrable. Ordered Di2 12 spd. I don't need it, but its going to be a bike worth having good components on.
I was thinking about this as I rode my filth encrusted commuter bike home from work in the rain last night.
It gets bare minimum maintenance to keep it running sweet. Gear cables replaced maybe every 4-5,000 miles then left alone.
The 10spd Tiagra components do a sterling job of shifting reliably despite the neglect and I was listening to the instant, slick, near silent gear changes in response to each press of the shifter. Indeed, the shifts are sometimes so slick and quiet that I sometimes couldn't be sure the change had happened after the click of the shifter so would click down again just to make sure.
You miss the point of electronic gearshift systems. They are not meant for a low maintenance commuter bikes that rarely gets cleaned any more than sprints and tubs are or ever were. They are primarily to aid performance, whether that be in a race situation or for someone who just likes to get the most from their bike.
It isn't ever going to be compulsory, so carry on with your commute on Tiagra.
As a half way why does no one make a gear sensor for mechanicals or at least a rear gear sensor so mechanical users can have a Garmin or whatever give a read out.
I do but then there is the case of climbing a hill and wondering how many you have left whilst dodging pot holes etc so not always appropriate to look down and backNah, I'm not a big fan of adding sensors to an other all-mechanical set up. Why not just go by feel: if you're in a hard gear and need it easier, then change gear.
I do but then there is the case of climbing a hill and wondering how many you have left whilst dodging pot holes etc so not always appropriate to look down and back
if I must have one simple sensor-based feature, it would be a short alarm that went off whenever I selected my lowest gear combo.
Or doing it in the dark, when you can't see how many you have left.
That one goes off on the downshift after you've selected the lowest gear.