PeteHski

All pre-YouTube so you would likely never know. FWIW I never had major problems with mechanical or electronic shifting, but the latter requires less maintenance ie no cables to wear out or get wet and gritty.

Last time I saw a mechanical shift on a pro bike was Peter Sagan at Paris Roubaix a couple of years ago. He was probably concerned about vibration affecting the electronics, but MvDP won anyway on Di2. Both SRAM AXS and Shimano Di2 are fully proven reliable systems at this point. As with all electronics, you might see the odd DoA like the OP seems to have encountered, but otherwise they just work like your TV or cellphone.

But you are only posting here as a fully committed retro-grouch looking to justify your own choices. It’s not the first time I’ve seen you post that 5-year old Mollema video that only went viral because it was funny at the time. Pretending that you are interested in a solution to this problem is laughable given that you have no intention of ever buying an electronic groupset. Or do you?

georges1

I never talked about pro riders? No, so please don't imply what I have never said. The sucessful introduction of electronic shifting in bike racing was due to shimano with Dura Ace 7970 in 2008 and later SRAM came in the game , I am not denying it. Yes they all ride on electronic groups now since 16 years .

Koyote

You "never talked about pro riders"? What? Apparently your memory is pretty short:

Why are all of you retro-grouches so insecure about your equipment? Can't you just be happy with your mechanical groupsets (and steel frames and tubular tires, quite often) without telling lies about the newer stuff?

georges1

Glad that you had no problems with your SRAM Etap. I tried a bike with Dura Ace DI2 7970 in 2015, it was totally different from what I use. Very silent, fast and intuitive shifting. In order to buy an electronic groupset, I should buy a completely new frame which is DI2 compliant. If there was a steel DI2 compliant frame ,I would have done it but I would have used dura ace 7970 as a transmission. Probably a speedwagen steel frame is DI2 compliant but as I am running many road bike projects and I don't have any more space in my garage and my cellar to park another bike. A speedwagen is roughly 3500$ the frame alone, DI2 7970 transmission roughly 950 to 1000$ and good carbon wheels from 1500 to 2000$. The cost would be near 6000-7000$. This is expensive plus you need a good bike tech for making the upgrades on the software.

georges1

The riders I mention were before the introduction of electronic shifting. I never rode on tubulars but always rode clinchers only. The fact is that Mollema encountered an issue with the newer stuff and you call that a lie ?

Koyote

I've always suspected that many of the new-tech naysayers are people who really just can't afford it.

georges1

Who says you that I can't afford it ?? I currently am running nearly ten road bike projects, for the cost of a high end shifting electronic bike equipped I can have at least three bikes equipped with dura ace 10 or 11 speed mechanical shifting built . It is a matter of choice of course

jaxgtr

One of the benefits of SRAM is the wireless, I put AXS on my Emonda that is not setup to run internally. So I picked up a kit that had the SRAM rim brake shifters and everything else needed to convert to AXS. The only thing I needed to do was pick up a crankset, which I found on sale and then I picked up a spider Quarq power meter. Found everything for about $1700. Later I updated to the more current Shimano 8100 series brake calipers and it's been gold since. Not that there was anything wrong with the mechanical, but I found I just liked the electronic better. Did not have to update my frame\wheels at all.

georges1

Thanks for your constructive input which I appreciate greatly. I am not really sure that with a frame from the mid 90's late 90's early 00's you can install ETAP, please correct me if I am wrong.On a post 2014 frame yes but I don't think it is feasible on 30 years old or 24 years old frame.

PeteHski

What? I hear Shimano software updates are a bit clunky, but SRAM is easy to update with the phone App. Not that there are many updates. The last one I did was a couple of years ago for improved battery monitoring and real-time trimming via the phone App. The SRAM App is pretty slick and allows some custom options. But there is no need to bother with any updates if you prefer. It works fine out of the box.

georges1

That is an interesting insight. I find it deceiving that Shimano updates are bit clunky, the SRAM app allowing custom option is a plus and being also more user friendly makes it another advantage compared to DI2.

PeteHski

There is no deception. It’s just easier to do firmware updates on AXS with the phone App.

This is how you have to update Di2

https://bettershifting.com/learn-how-to-update-your-di2-component-firmware/

Now tell me that’s not clunky.

georges1

Yes I agree it indeed is clunky, I would have expected better from Shimano.

PeteHski

Me too. It’s one of the reasons I prefer SRAM AXS, along with being fully wireless. But it wouldn’t be a show-stopper for me. I would just use it with the factory setup and not bother with any firmware updates.

bampilot06

I let the shop update my Di2. The process seems wonky.

choddo

Wireless possibly a bit fiddly because of that need to cable the shifter. Wired Di2 updates are just a couple of taps on the app.

choddo

Hang on, I don’t have to do any of that. Maybe they improved it on 12speed.

jaxgtr

you could do it, but I think the esthetics the those frames really look better with the groups sets of that era, but yea, frames 10-12 years old can pull it off easier. I would think the only real issue might be fitting the crankset and possibly proper chainline.

jaxgtr

Yea the Di2 if you did not update to the 12 speed stuff, as far as I know would not work with the more recent software, at least it did not when I had my Di2 Domane with 11 speed. I think their v5 software was restricted to 12 speed.

eduskator

Unfortunately, I fear you might be right.

Fortunately, Shimano woke up from this non sense and enabled wireless update via phone app on its 12speed electronic groupset. The wireless shifters still needs to be wired to be updated, though (???).

PeteHski

That’s a step forward, but needing to wire a wireless shifter is still nuts. But at least it’s not an everyday task.

Koyote

I've owned 11sp Di2 for 5.5 years and have never done it. I suppose my old shop might have done it at some point, when the bike was there...But I know that nothing has been updated in at least 2.5 years, since that's the last time I visited them. Bike still works fine.

Honestly, there's so much blather in this thread - like so many on bf. I'm not talking about you, Pete, but rather about poster(s) who have strong opinions about tech that they fail to understand.

MoAlpha

I haven't owned a Campagnolo group since the downtube shifter days, but those Shimano groups all led the cables straight out the side of the lever body, not 90º around a little pulley and under the bar tape, as in current "mechanical" designs. Wire rope hates tight bends.

choddo

The Shimano updates aren’t clunky any more on the 12sp groups but on the DA you are talking about they are. Probably pretty stable software for that version by now though.

bampilot06

UPDATE:

Stopped by the shop today and was met by the mad scientist. They started the warranty process over a week ago and SRAM never got back to them. My lack of patience is known, so the guy did me a solid. Spent a couple of hours working on it last night and was able to un brick it. I asked him how, and SRAM has a lengthy protocol for this, that usually doesn’t work. All he told me was after trying to over and over he did the steps backwards and now it works.


Have to set the bike up to my “fit” but should be able to pick up the bike today.