DI2 Depression.

[zoom-zoom]

I love that this thread has morphed into a discussion of manual vs automatic trannie cars. I mean that sincerely.

Any guesses what I drive? Anyone? Anyone?

A manual!!!! I know you're all surprised. But here's a little something to ponder. My MT Honda Fit gets better gas mileage and is a waaaaaaay peppier ride than my friend's identical but AT Fit. I do have to agree that if you live in a city and get stuck in traffic, it's PITA. But in all other ways, MT is a huge plus IMHO.

I love dropping people from a standstill with far more horsepower and AT with my little 150bhp Mazda 3 hatchback. Admittedly, it still gets sorta crappy gas mileage for a small car, regardless of transmission. One reason we'll never own another Mazda (the transmission and engine are about the only things that haven't been problematic in 7+ years).

That Honda Fit is pretty much my DH's dream car. His best car ever was an '89 Honda Civic Si hatchback. He still pines for that thing.

[Skippyak]

This makes me chuckle because when I drive DHs sub impreza WRXsti stick, I giggle at the boy racers beside me who think I am going to take them on at the lights LOL., in this car and his previous car (mazda RX8 stick) people try and race me, people, I am a middle aged lady, I can barely tell what gear I am in. Rev all you like, go ahead and overtake me you crazy bastards ROFL, I is driving the speed limit. I don't like driving his car at all. My FIL loves burning people at the lights in his Honda fit (LMAO).

[Catrin]

I love that this thread has morphed into a discussion of manual vs automatic trannie cars. I mean that sincerely.

Any guesses what I drive? Anyone? Anyone?

A manual!!!! I know you're all surprised. But here's a little something to ponder. My MT Honda Fit gets better gas mileage and is a waaaaaaay peppier ride than my friend's identical but AT Fit. I do have to agree that if you live in a city and get stuck in traffic, it's PITA. But in all other ways, MT is a huge plus IMHO.

It IS interesting how this thread has morphed - but in the end - it IS still about drive-trains

Dh's last car was a manual for that reason - it was peppier than the comparable automatic. Chemo, one stress fracture (during which I had to give up my beloved Highlander because he couldn't drive a stick with a boot on) and a whole lot of traffic later, automatic it was.

The stick IS more fun. Just not practical around here, unfortunately.

I love the peppier lower gears I get in my cars than the comparable automatics. I am sure there are ATs out there that are just as peppy and responsive, but not in my price range. At least I've not found one. I don't have issues driving in traffic with a stick so I can't really identify with that - but I've NEVER owned an automatic. Back in my taxi-driving years long ago my taxi was indeed an automatic but I HATED that car for far more reasons than the transmission. The only problem I've had with a manual was post-foot-surgery in 2004 - it took me a LOT longer to get back to driving than it would have been as my foot couldn't take the pressure of the clutch once I was cleared for driving.

[OakLeaf]

Electric motor torque, baby. Nothing gets you off the line like a hybrid.

[zoom-zoom]

This makes me chuckle because when I drive DHs sub impreza WRXsti stick, I giggle at the boy racers beside me who think I am going to take them on at the lights LOL., in this car and his previous car (mazda RX8 stick) people try and race me, people, I am a middle aged lady, I can barely tell what gear I am in. Rev all you like, go ahead and overtake me you crazy bastards ROFL, I is driving the speed limit. I don't like driving his car at all. My FIL loves burning people at the lights in his Honda fit (LMAO).

I think some guys are not at all choosy about who they do this to. I had some dude in a racy little BMW pull this on me when I was driving my pokey little '97 Ford Escort with my kid in his carseat in the back. He had to have been really bored and REALLY in need of an ego stroking!

[Fredwina]

I think some guys are not at all choosy about who they do this to. I had some dude in a racy little BMW pull this on me when I was driving my pokey little '97 Ford Escort with my kid in his carseat in the back. He had to have been really bored and REALLY in need of an ego stroking!

I'm amazing at the reaction my little Fiat get from the 'small package' guys(girly car in a girly color). Although , most older guy give me a thumbs up.
Bringing it back to the original topic, the thread has reminded me of the bent controversy back in the 1930's
http://www.cyclegenius.com/history.php
The argument for banning them wasn't they were dangerous or nerdy, but the riders were 'cheating'.

[MarieV]

Here's a really informative review of Ultegra Di2, especially halfway down where Hannah Bussey provides her take on it: http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/tech/...tegra-di2.html

When I bought my new bike, my LBS had to special order the frame to get the smallest Colnago CLD (in a 40s) in the color I wanted. That meant I could pick the components--well, within my budget. After weeks of research the review above convinced me to pay the extra $600 to upgrade from Ultegra mechanical to Ultegra Di2. Since it is a Colnago, it would have been nice to have it be all Italian, and I actually considered Campy for about a day. However, Campy Chorus and Campy Record were about the same or a little more than Ultegra Di2, and I already had Shimano wheels and didn't want to spend even more. (BTW, the full Dura Ace Di2 groupset and Campy's electronic shifting Record EPS groupset would have been $2000 more and Super Record EPS was $3000 more than Ultegra Di2.) For racers I think the advantage of Dura-Ace, Record, and Super Record components over Ultegra is probably greater than the advantage of electronic over mechanical shifting at the same level, but as others have brought up before, those who can shell out that kind of cash always have those advantages.

As for dealing with a dead battery, there's a battery indicator light that's solid green (51-100% charge), flashing green (26-50%), and solid red (25% and lower). The typical Di2 battery charge should last between 1000-1500 miles, so you're probably not going to take a Di2 bike on a cross-country ride if you're not going to have access to a wall outlet. But in general the only way you'd have a dead battery is if your indicator light's been flashing green or solid red, and you've just been ignoring it for hundreds of miles. I've ridden about 500+ miles since I've had my bike, and the battery indicator just went from solid to flashing green.

As for Shimano pushing Di2 on consumers, so far only the higher-end carbon bikes are even Di2 compatible, and manufacturers don't even offer Ultegra Di2 as an option on complete bikes except for their highest-end bikes. If anything it seems like for the same price more and more of the newer carbon bikes are getting Shimano 105 or even Tiagra components and cheaper wheels.

For me, the Di2 upgrade was definitely worth it. I'm so much more confident on my new bike, maybe because the frame is smaller and it really fits me and/or maybe because the Di2 hoods are smaller, so with my XS-size hands, I feel more confident shifting and braking. In any case, I'm having a lot more fun riding my new bike, and I don't think we should discredit anything that makes riding more fun. Just my $0.02.

[nuliajuk]

I'm glad you got something that worked so well for you! Thinking back to bikes I've owned over the decades, I have nostalgic thoughts about the rides I did on them, but wouldn't go back to down-tube shifters, toe clips, or deep drop handlebars for any amount of money. People who are overly nostalgic about the good ol' days of cycling often forget that riders at the extreme ends of the size spectrum - but especially small riders - were simply left out.

[zoom-zoom]

I'm glad you got something that worked so well for you! Thinking back to bikes I've owned over the decades, I have nostalgic thoughts about the rides I did on them, but wouldn't go back to down-tube shifters, toe clips, or deep drop handlebars for any amount of money. People who are overly nostalgic about the good ol' days of cycling often forget that riders at the extreme ends of the size spectrum - but especially small riders - were simply left out.

Heck, we're still left out in many ways. I'm frustrated as I look to upgrade my CX bike. If I want something more than entry-level frame and components I pretty much have to go custom...and at just under 5'4" I'm not THAT small, but women still make up a fraction of the field at local races (I think there were only 6-7 of us at yesterday's race...out of hundreds of racers. Most women I've ever seen in a day at our area series is in the neighborhood of 15). Just finding a frame small enough in the first place is a challenge, since the bottom bracket height is so much higher than on a road bike. To find bikes with top tubes that I can clear means that anything larger than a 44 (comparable to my 48cm road bike) is generally going to be too big. I love my Redline and was drooling over their carbon/disc Pro model...which starts at a 48 and would be far too big for me.

[Owlie]

As for Shimano pushing Di2 on consumers, so far only the higher-end carbon bikes are even Di2 compatible, and manufacturers don't even offer Ultegra Di2 as an option on complete bikes except for their highest-end bikes. If anything it seems like for the same price more and more of the newer carbon bikes are getting Shimano 105 or even Tiagra components and cheaper wheels.

For me, the Di2 upgrade was definitely worth it. I'm so much more confident on my new bike, maybe because the frame is smaller and it really fits me and/or maybe because the Di2 hoods are smaller, so with my XS-size hands, I feel more confident shifting and braking. In any case, I'm having a lot more fun riding my new bike, and I don't think we should discredit anything that makes riding more fun. Just my $0.02.

I'm glad you like it! I agree with your last sentence completely. Would I buy Di2? No. Doesn't mean I don't think other people should buy it.

It's definitely harder if you're smaller.

[Dogmama]

For me, the Di2 upgrade was definitely worth it. I'm so much more confident on my new bike, maybe because the frame is smaller and it really fits me and/or maybe because the Di2 hoods are smaller, so with my XS-size hands, I feel more confident shifting and braking. In any case, I'm having a lot more fun riding my new bike, and I don't think we should discredit anything that makes riding more fun. Just my $0.02.

+1
For those of us with small arthritic hands, the Di2 is a Godsend. Interesting that you have to get old enough to have arthritis hands to afford one...?

I also looked at Campy because my previous bike of 17 years was Campy. But when I tried the Di2 I was sold. I have never ... knock on wood ... missed a shift in the almost two years that I've owned it. I've also never run out of charge because you get plenty of warning. If you ignore the warning light for weeks, you won't get stuck in a gear. The next warning is that you won't be able to shift your front gears but you'll still have all of your rear derailleur.

I "raced" a guy up a long hill a few weeks ago and beat him only because my shifting was smoother, quicker and more accurate. Hey, when you're pushing 60 hard, winning a race against a kid is a big thing!