DI2 Depression.

[goldfinch]

Hi Wahine, - et al "purists"
Just to give you a little perspective. I did three upgrades for customers this past summer to Di2. ALL THREE were women with small hands, one with severe arthritis who were really struggling with shifting their road bikes. Two of these customers literally told me they saw the end of their cycling was very near. I feel Di2 gave them a new lease on their enjoyment of cycling.
Sure the "Racer Boys" who run the cycling industry are touting all the "racing performance" of Di2...but performance can be many things to many people.
I'm sure you didn't mean to tell the woman that she is not allowed to enjoy cycling anymore because she has arthritis.
Just a thought.
Seajay

I have a friend in the same position. But, she still struggles with braking. And doesn't appreciate the gearing choices for electronic shifting.

It would be great for my spouse but he would never buy it. I think he would rather walk than pay the price.

[Tokie]

It is my understanding that the Shimano electronic shifting will not prevent cross-chaining. And I was not pleased with the extra wiring & battery pack that goes along with it. I am especially good at cross-chaining myself & when I heard that the electronic shifting doesn't prevent my careless shifting -pffff!

[rebeccaC]

It is my understanding that the Shimano electronic shifting will not prevent cross-chaining. And I was not pleased with the extra wiring & battery pack that goes along with it. I am especially good at cross-chaining myself & when I heard that the electronic shifting doesn't prevent my careless shifting -pffff!

Well, the front derailleur will be correctly trimmed when cross-chaining with electronics Technology does have a way of evolving into better systems!! There will probably be wireless, programmable (to not cross-chain etc.) and very small battery systems in the future!

[nuliajuk]

Electronic shifting is less of a drastic change than clip-less pedals were. Does anyone else remember when they came in, back in the 80s? At that time, criterium races were started from a standing start - the commissaire fired the gun as you stood at the start line and you tried to get your feet in your toe clips and tighten your straps as you rolled forward. Clip-less pedals were seen as unfair, so many commissaires started doing a rolling neutral lap to level the field. Today many still do, even though you never see toe clips in races any more.
The point is, bicycling has always been a sport of ever-improving technology and most of the things we use and take for granted on our present day bikes were "unfair" to someone at some point in the past.

[TigerMom]

Maybe I am misunderstanding what DI2 is. As far as I understood it, the electronic DI2 only helped you shift better and smoother but does NOT assist with how well you can power your bike with your legs. Therefore, I don't understand how DI2 is "cheating" in terms of being a fully human-pedaling bike.

[Skippyak]

Mostly the issue will be about the haves and have nots, same old same old, no? Cheating is in the eye of the checkbook holder when it comes down to equipment envy or disgust. It is a lot of money for an upgrade.