...ok, now I'm officially a curmudgeon.
It’s wonderful.
Once set up it works faultlessly and doesn’t require the readjustment or cable servicing that’s required with a cable operated drivetrain[1].
On top of that the front derailleur constantly trims itself to never chain rub and semi-automatic[2] shifting is surprisingly useful.
Also Di2 let’s you add multiple shift buttons. So you could have shifting at every hand position if you wanted.
Finally the thing that sold it to me. I did a multi-day ride on my old bike. After the first 4 days I got cramp in my hand everytime I shifted. Told myself I’d try di2. Every gear change is now as soft as a mouse click.
All that and the only real downside side is you have to change it every 6 months.
It’s a very well thought through system. I know lots of people with Di2 in my bike club. I don’t think anyone dislikes it.
1. Bowden cables don’t “stretch” as such, what actually happens in mechanical systems is that the ferrel ends settle over time or the linings of the cable outers wear and flake causing friction.
2. The semi-automatic mode means single buttons for higher or lower shifts. The front derailleur shifts as appropriate to give you the next ratio.
You can repeat that on each hand or on the top hood position. So for example, if you want to change gears as you indicate left or right, now you can.
With Di2 I haven’t dropped a chain and it shifts instantly, just whzz and it’s ready, with the automatic down shift at the back too. The auto-trim feature is great too, no rubbing at all.
Honestly I don’t have a bad thing to say about Di2 at all, I’m far from a competent mechanic and between my group set arriving through the door and taking it for a first ride it took me about two hours to install everything. Just to change the cables previously would take me an hour of fiddling around with magnets to try and get them routed through the frame.
I get that with even friction shifting. It's bombproof.
>With Di2 I haven’t dropped a chain
That has to do with your limit screws. I haven't dropped a chain in decades probably, minus some kind of dramatic mountain bike wreck.
Electronic shifting systems even add reliability vs. mechanical ones by allowing a knock to temporarily displace the derailleur, which the motor will then fix nearly instantly, rather than breaking/bending while futility trying to resist a high force.
He effectively had to limp his bike home because he was stuck in the gear he had riding uphill. Took him half a day or so rather than an hour.
I’m certainly not a Luddite but this doesn’t seem to be a worthwhile trade off for me.
This would be like someone running out of fuel in a car. A known limitation which is completely avoidable.
Sram is fully wireless, and has batteries on each component.
Both systems have their set of pros: less batteries and central charging vs less installation effort due to no cables.
I think all in my bike has around 11 devices on it with updatable firmware… And I might even be missing a few.
Both pedals, front and rear derailers, Di2 battery, Di2 Bluetooth adapter, Di2 Hub, both shift levers, Garmin computer, front wheel speed sensor.
And I often wear a Garmin heart rate strap, so that’s another.
