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TECH NEWS
Shimano Dura Ace Di2 ridingFirst Ride video: Dura Ace Di2
We've finally got our filthy mitts on a very tidy looking Cervelo S3 kitted out with Shimano's electronic groupset, Dura Ace Di2. We'll be putting it through its paces in due course, bit in the meantime we thought we'd share our thoughts from the time on the bike that we managed at Shimano's press day for the launch of Ultegra 6700.
It's too early to make full-blown conclusions but what is evident from our short time with Di2 is that it's an extremely well polished system. That shouldn't really be a surprise given that it's been used in anger in the Tour de France; Wiggo ran the electronic gears on both TT and road bikes on his way to fourth place. But what is surprising is how different it feels to its mechanical stablemate.
Look out for a full review of Di2 on road.cc in the coming weeks. We'll test that S3 frame too, while we're about it...
Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.
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7 comments
check out wiggo's chainring from the annecy tt:
wiggo chainring.jpg
I wonder how these will fair through a 'typical' Britsh winter? One thing you know is that a cable set-up will work and get you home, no matter what the weather.
Biopace rings - or similar systems - are back with a vengeance, plenty of elliptical rotor q rings and the like in the TdF peloton this year. take your point about the maintenance side of things but it's not designed for mass appeal - this is top end stuff, it's more about the performance.
Mavic did indeed have a bite at electronic shifting: more than one in fact, Zap and Mektronic have both gone to the great component drawer in the sky. reliability problems were the main issue, not a criticism that could be levelled - so far - at di2
im no luddite but i always thought one of the many good things about bicycles was that they are fairly basic to maintain for the average person.. adding electronics just starts to make it a slightly more difficult proposition..
anyway didnt mavic have a go at electronic shifting some years ago, that went the way of biopace chainrings, and quite possibly 'cranklocks' as well..hmmm
I have Di2 on my Willier and find it amazingly smooth and quick for shifting, particularly for the front mech as there is no effort required to sweep the lever across as there is on cable shifters. The noise is amazing too as you can hear both mechs constantly re-adjusting themselves to ensure a straight and true chain line after every gear change. On the downside, i find the actual shifting levers very sensitive and it is easy to change gear if you dont mean to if you happen to ride with a finger covering the brake levers. Overall, its awesome and i hope the technology begins to filter down to other groupsets over time.
It is extremely expensive but on a very brief whizz around bath last week the cervelo with Di2 is stunning. The shifts are quick, smooth and reliable.
Looking forward to hearing what you guys thought of it.
I tried it out at Eurobike last year and it didn't overwhelm, especially as there was a conventional cable-operated 7900 test rig sitting next to it for doing the contrasting and comparing bit.
I think if the only show on your sky+ box set up to 'series record' is 'The Gadget Show', then it's for you. Otherwise, cables still rule the roost for ease of use, maintenance, etc.
My 2 bobs worth.