Let;s Talk Bikes: Electronic Shifting

[sadlebred]

Has anyone here gone w/Shimano electronic shifting for a road bike in the last year or two. Opinions? Worth the cost?

I start the process tomorrow of getting fitted for a new road bike and trying to figure out what I want. I'm most likely going with a Project One Trek Domane. My budget has yet TBD pending what my team's shop discount will be. The bikes I've specs out with Ui2 are $5300 and $6500 depending on the options I chose.

The one big thing to decide is do I go electronic shifting or mechanical? Most likely I'll be doing 11 speed Ultegra because of the cost. I plan to ride a few different bikes with both gruppos to see which I like better. Electonic is another $1500. From what I've read and talked to others about there is almost zero maintenance with it. It just works. There are no cables to worry about snapping (has happened to me many times), no adjustments to be made. You only have to remember to charge the battery once/month.

Any opinions?

[Susie]

My bike has 105's, so we're well beyond my experience and previous bike shopping budget/research. I'm interested to read any answers though.

[katinthehat]

I have no idea except the infamous bike throw Bradley Wiggins did when it was apparent his shifting malfunctioned.

I dunno, I think I'd rather spend the money on something else and wait a few more years to upgrade to that.

[kams]

This is well beyond my scope of experience or knowledge, but I do have a girlfriend who recently built a bike with electronic shifters. She said it's so incredibly smooth that sometimes she has to look to make sure it actually shifted (she doesn't see that as a negative!). Fancy dancy stuff!

[sadlebred]

Mar 25, 2014 15:13:58 GMT -5 katinthehat said:

I have no idea except the infamous bike throw Bradley Wiggins did when it was apparent his shifting malfunctioned.

I dunno, I think I'd rather spend the money on something else and wait a few more years to upgrade to that.

One problem is that most frames are built to accept one or the other.

Part of me feels that if I have the $$ now, why not do it? I should clarify that the bike prices I've spec'ed include the electronic shifting. Mechanical Ultegra is $1500 less or so.

[katandkevin]

My friends have electronic shifting on their tri bikes. I rode one of them for a while and didn't think it any better or worse than manual, but maybe I am not the norm. I like that I can kind of tweak the shift if it isn't completely clean and I don't think you can do that on electronic. I might be completely talking out of my butt, I will never be able to afford electronic shifting even if I wanted it.

[joenali]

@trigirl has them!

[sadlebred]

Paging trigal! How do you like your electronic shifters?

[trigal]

Oops!! Sorry! I've been off the grid for a while!

I LOOOOOVE my electronic shifting!!!! The shifting is awesome. It's just so smooth that I barely feel it. Even when there is a little stress on the bike, like climbing a steeper grade, it's so nice.

I only have it on my tri bike (a Parlee TT) and DH has it on his road bike. I don't have to charge the battery too often, but I also don't put as many miles on my bike as you probably do. When I buy a new road bike (maybe this year?), I'll likely get it for that.

sadlebred