login
If Di2 is so great, why do the pros stick with cables?
-
No new posts
 2014-11-09 9:51 PM |
 119  Groton, New York |  Subject: If Di2 is so great, why do the pros stick with cables?Looking at photos of many of the pros at Kona, it seems like most are sticking with cables. If Di2 shifting is so great, why are the pros sticking with manual shifters? |
| 2014-11-09 10:09 PM in reply to: keqwow |
Expert 2355  Madison, Wisconsin | Subject: RE: If Di2 is so great, why do the pros stick with cables? Originally posted by keqwow Looking at photos of many of the pros at Kona, it seems like most are sticking with cables. If Di2 shifting is so great, why are the pros sticking with manual shifters? 1. Sponsors 2. Electronics fail 3. Sponsors 4. Cost (Not all pros are given everything free) 5. Course doesn't require Di2 shifting In all honesty, Di2 is great, but it comes with a big risk. I have heard several horror stories of peoples Di2 systems failing for a variety of reasons. Some races are in area where a mechanic is not well experienced with Di2, or in some cases the LBS does not have the material to fix the issue within 24 hours. |
| 2014-11-09 10:31 PM in reply to: bcagle25 |
Pro 15655  | Subject: RE: If Di2 is so great, why do the pros stick with cables? Originally posted by bcagle25 Originally posted by keqwow Looking at photos of many of the pros at Kona, it seems like most are sticking with cables. If Di2 shifting is so great, why are the pros sticking with manual shifters? 1. Sponsors 2. Electronics fail 3. Sponsors 4. Cost (Not all pros are given everything free) 5. Course doesn't require Di2 shifting In all honesty, Di2 is great, but it comes with a big risk. I have heard several horror stories of peoples Di2 systems failing for a variety of reasons. Some races are in area where a mechanic is not well experienced with Di2, or in some cases the LBS does not have the material to fix the issue within 24 hours. Ben, in all honesty, as you said, I've heard many horror stories of peoples mechanical systems failing for a variety of reasons. Even in some of those instances the LBS couldn't help or have the material to fix the issue within 24 hours. I was not an instant convert to Di2......but after riding it a bit and watching our kids race it......I love it! There are instances, like DL racing courses for instance, where it's head and shoulders above mechanical. |
| 2014-11-10 5:13 AM in reply to: bcagle25 |
Pro 5892 , New Hampshire | Subject: RE: If Di2 is so great, why do the pros stick with cables? If they're sponsored by SRAM, then there's no other option at this point… they only offer mechanical shifting (although the electronic shifting is supposedly on the way). Di2 really makes the biggest difference when you have some serious climbing (ability to shift from the bars, not only from extensions) or when it's a technical course (same reason as climbing). Kona is really neither of those, so there's no drawback to mechanical. Regarding Di2 failing… if you keep the battery charged, then the chance of failing is pretty slim… Mechanical fails more often, cable stretch, or snapped cables... |
| 2014-11-10 6:54 AM in reply to: audiojan |
Extreme Veteran 1986 Cypress, TX | Subject: RE: If Di2 is so great, why do the pros stick with cables? I have been riding Di2 equipped bikes since the beginning of 2011. Never once had an issue and I love it! I think the sponsorship issue is why many of the top-15 at Kona don't use it. Many were SRAM sponsored so they have no choice. I counted 6 SRAM equipped bikes, 8 Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, and 1 Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 mechanical in the top-15 men. So of the top-15 men the majority were using Di2 and almost every non-SRAM sponsored athlete was using Di2. So what was the point of this thread again??? |
| 2014-11-10 8:44 AM in reply to: keqwow |
Champion 7136 Knoxville area | Subject: RE: If Di2 is so great, why do the pros stick with cables? it's a real pita to keep all the cables "hidden" on electric groupsets on a lot of bikes, especially ones not designed with them in mind. That's my reason anyways. As for the pro's... see above. |
| 2014-11-10 8:51 AM in reply to: Left Brain |
| 754 | Subject: RE: If Di2 is so great, why do the pros stick with cables? Originally posted by Left Brain Originally posted by bcagle25 Originally posted by keqwow Looking at photos of many of the pros at Kona, it seems like most are sticking with cables. If Di2 shifting is so great, why are the pros sticking with manual shifters? 1. Sponsors 2. Electronics fail 3. Sponsors 4. Cost (Not all pros are given everything free) 5. Course doesn't require Di2 shifting In all honesty, Di2 is great, but it comes with a big risk. I have heard several horror stories of peoples Di2 systems failing for a variety of reasons. Some races are in area where a mechanic is not well experienced with Di2, or in some cases the LBS does not have the material to fix the issue within 24 hours. Ben, in all honesty, as you said, I've heard many horror stories of peoples mechanical systems failing for a variety of reasons. Even in some of those instances the LBS couldn't help or have the material to fix the issue within 24 hours. I was not an instant convert to Di2......but after riding it a bit and watching our kids race it......I love it! There are instances, like DL racing courses for instance, where it's head and shoulders above mechanical. I have a couple of friends who ride Di2, and they have had problems. Like mechanical shifting, things can go wrong, and you need to learn how to take care of it. However, I have had a cable come completely off during a ride, and I have seen cables break on a couple of bikes (that was why one of my friends switched to Di2). My next bike will have electronic shifting. |
| 2014-11-10 8:52 AM in reply to: Leegoocrap |
Extreme Veteran 5722 | Subject: RE: If Di2 is so great, why do the pros stick with cables? Originally posted by Leegoocrap it's a real pita to keep all the cables "hidden" on electric groupsets on a lot of bikes, especially ones not designed with them in mind. That's my reason anyways. As for the pro's... see above. when SRAM releases their wireless offering this problem will go away and then 14 of the 15 top Kona guys will be on electronic shifting :-) |
| 2014-11-10 10:18 AM in reply to: marcag |
Champion 7136 Knoxville area | Subject: RE: If Di2 is so great, why do the pros stick with cables? Originally posted by marcag Originally posted by Leegoocrap it's a real pita to keep all the cables "hidden" on electric groupsets on a lot of bikes, especially ones not designed with them in mind. That's my reason anyways. As for the pro's... see above. when SRAM releases their wireless offering this problem will go away and then 14 of the 15 top Kona guys will be on electronic shifting :-) I refuse to believe anything an American company (heh... never mind italians) can make in the electronics department can compete with the Japanese :D |
| 2014-11-10 2:29 PM in reply to: marcag |
Champion 10668 Tacoma, Washington | Subject: RE: If Di2 is so great, why do the pros stick with cables? Originally posted by marcag Originally posted by Leegoocrap it's a real pita to keep all the cables "hidden" on electric groupsets on a lot of bikes, especially ones not designed with them in mind. That's my reason anyways. As for the pro's... see above. when SRAM releases their wireless offering this problem will go away and then 14 of the 15 top Kona guys will be on electronic shifting :-) If SRAM can execute on their plan for wireless, I'd be all over that. That would make builds SO much cleaner. BUT... if they stick with their leaked shift patterns (using both shifters for a front shift), it'd be a no bueno for me. |
| 2014-11-10 5:19 PM in reply to: keqwow |
Pro 5361 | Subject: RE: If Di2 is so great, why do the pros stick with cables? Pro riders get to choose only a single component of their bike.
the saddle.
all others are chosen for them. |
| 2014-11-10 5:57 PM in reply to: morey000 |
Extreme Veteran 5722 | Subject: RE: If Di2 is so great, why do the pros stick with cables? Originally posted by morey000 Pro riders get to choose only a single component of their bike.
the saddle.
all others are chosen for them. Maybe pro tour guys, but pro triathletes choose their bike (frame) sponsor components (sram, shimano...) cockpit hydration wheels helment electronics power meters sometimes there are conflicts. For example their choice of frame may also make helmets which conflicts with their choice of helmets. For example Crowie is with specialized but is not signed with Specialized helmets. |
| 2014-11-13 1:12 PM in reply to: marcag |
| 11 | Subject: RE: If Di2 is so great, why do the pros stick with cables? Di2 is awesome... the only people who claim they don't like Di2 are those who haven't got it... super stable, super efficient....BOOM |
|
|
|
View profile
Add to friends
Go to training log
Go to race log
Send a message
View album
CONNECT WITH FACEBOOK