Techs-Mechs-Gear: Ultegra Di2
I've known about this for about 7 months, but chose not to say anything for fears that I'd jinx their debut.
Opinions aside, I really think this is a pivotal moment in bicycle 'race level' drivetrains.
There has been some talk as to the reliability of this product yet, despite my initial skepticism with the Dua-Ace Version, I have never seen a problem in the field, nor have I heard of one online.
11 months ago
Ryan_Liles
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So, is the main difference Aluminum vs Carbon? I also see this:
Efforts to bring the system down to a cheaper pricepoint have resulted in the use of fewer wires.
And I recall Dura-Ace being noted for trim adjustments and always keeping the chain in alignment/positioned. Surely they would make sure Ultegra is just as functional…
I guess this is good news (not sure I am onboard with electric shifting yet), and with the frogmen working on their version of this, it seems an idea I need to become okay with sometime…
Article says yes for front trim
Looking forward to trying it out, anyway, to see how it compares to DA.
Reading the comments after the article makes me so glad I found the cafe!
I don't see the point of needing it to set up trim adjustment...it isn't hard to do on mechanical shifting
by Vlaanderen90 on Jun 20, 2011 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I keep reading a similar quote to this everywhere, which is why I said it above:
the whole Di2 system is always aware of what gears you are in for both the front and rear. As you move through the gears with the rear derailleur, the front derailleur automatically auto-trims to prevent chain rub.
So, it keeps track of the chain’s position and avoids rubbing the chain with the FD. Nice. But, “gotta have”? I’m not sold yet – I am not sure chain rub is a huge concern for me since I don’t often ride big ring, largest cog…
by JustJoshinYa on Jun 20, 2011 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the big question is...
Will they make a smart version that prevents Andy from cross-chaining?
My fruit bowl is full of sex wax--gavia
by Douglas Ansel on Jun 20, 2011 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions
And since I posted this earlier today, I now get to eat crow and admit I road in exactly this combo today several times...
Mostly because I lazily didn’t want to shift into the inner ring and smaller cogs in the back (and for brief periods of time – slight rises in the hill that required a touch easier a gear for me, but not a total downshift up front). A little bit of rubbing, but my bike could use a tune up.
Not sure I’d spend the money to go electric just for FD trimming…What else does Di2 do really well?
by JustJoshinYa on Jun 20, 2011 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions
From what I've seen
Di2 excels at front-shifting.
Battery life does NOT seem to be any sort of problem.
Two minor knocks (aside from price):
1. Rear shifting is more sensitive to limit-screw adjustment than mechanical shifters (so, if, the upper limit screw is a little off you either can’t get your biggest rear cog, or you’ve just dumped the chain into the spokes.
2. Rear-shifting is more sensitive to cassette and chain-wear than is mechanical shifting.
1 – Yes, I agree but that is only an issue if you’re swapping wheels and the hubs are different which and locate the cassette in a slightly different location relative to the Rear D.
2 – I haven’t seen that in the field, but I’ve only encountered straight D/A Di2 drivetrains and not some sort ’bastard combo like -
- FSA Crank
- SRAM RED Cassette
- SRAM or KMC, or (?) Chain.
While it might work fine in the start, it could get all ‘janky’ in the long term compared to to a straight D/A Di2 build.
What would Deming do? (+8:00 GMT)
Using DA Di2 with Q-rings at the moment
and it’s more reliable than when I was using mech DA or SRAM. Haven’t dropped a chain on the inside yet, but occasionally get a dodgy shift into the big ring.
do we get a PdC discount?
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
I like the idea of electronic and love trickle-down tech
but they still lose me at “priced like mechanical DA.” I might wait until electronic 105 is priced like Ultegra mechanical, which by then will hopefully function like current Di2.
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