DI2 Depression.

[Wahine]

A friend just bought a new bike with DI2 and I feel like someone has just told me that there is no Santa Clause. I realize that I'm probably over reacting in most people's eyes but the purist in me objects strongly to a motor on a bike. I get it. It's slick, it's the new thing, it's what the pros are using and Shimano has done a hell of a job with it's marketing. But it's still a motor. It still replaces some of the mechanical effort of the rider to make the bike perform and I'm not OK with that. I'm really not.

Go ahead and put a motor on your bike, but don't pretend it's the same as a fully human propelled bike, because it's not.

What is the world coming to.

Rant over, thank you for listening.

[WindingRoad]

I relate Wahine. It seems like its taking away an element of simplicity that I too value in my bikes.

[Owlie]

In some ways, I agree with you.

It's a cool toy, and the engineering is interesting. (That might be because I'm dating an engineer.) The programmable shifting is neat. Would I buy it? No. I can't remember to charge my cell phone. How would I remember to charge my bike? I like the feedback and the feel of mechanical shifters too.

You kids get off my lawn.

[OakLeaf]

The minute they started with indexed shifting, there went the neighborhood.

[Wahine]

The minute they started with indexed shifting, there went the neighborhood.

Hee hee. Well at least index shifting is still a mechanical process without an external power source assist.

[Wahine]

You kids get off my lawn.

LOL! Exactly!!

[Eden]

No. I can't remember to charge my cell phone. How would I remember to charge my bike? I.

yup.... I can't remember to charge my cell phone and my Garmin is always running out of battery life in the middle of a ride..... it would be pretty bad if my shifting ran out of batteries too....

[nuliajuk]

To be fair, it doesn't replace much of the effort. I just don't see the point of it, mainly. It doesn't take that much longer to use a shift lever. I suppose if you're riding the Vuelta or some other major race with extremely fast competitors it makes a difference, but I can't see that it adds much except weight for us average non-racing riders.

I suppose we all have our tipping point when it comes to new technology. Some people think there's no need to put shifters anywhere but on a down-tube, and what do you need clipless pedals for when there are perfectly good toe clips and straps? And some do away with gearing altogether and think a single fixed is all you need. What I find interesting is that the retro purists are most often people who were too young to have ever used their chosen technology when it was new. Riders who are in their 70s embrace brifters and carbon fibre bikes enthusiastically, or at least my husband and his former clubmates do.

[smilingcat]

nahhh its all hype me think.

More expensive thing to buy and more ways to separate you and your money. When index shifting first came out, I turned it off or disabled it. I hate adjusting index shifting. It has to be sooo right or else.

And I guess I wont say anything about an electric assist velomobile.

[Wahine]

And I guess I wont say anything about an electric assist velomobile.

This is going to seem really weird but I'm actually OK with an electronic assist velomobile. I'm assuming you mean motocycle. They aren't trying to be bicycles.

As for bikes that have motor assist on them to help with hills etc, I'm good with those too. I actually love them they get people out riding that wouldn't otherwise, especially where I live (it's super hilly). It's the only way a lot of mom's can commute whith their kids in a trailer or do the gorceries and I'm all for fewer cars on the road. But again, it's not trying to pretend to be a regular bicycle.

As for DI2 being a trend. I hope so. Being electronic with a battery (which is not environmentally friendly to produce or dispose of) I expect it to stop working or become annoying at some time and I really hope that people don't then just throw it away and replace it with a new set up every 2 years or whenever the new shiny thing comes out. What a waste. This bothers me.

But then, I should recognize that we live in a world where that is the norm. Most people get a new phone every 2 years, TVs, whatever. I'm unusual in how long I hold on to things. Heck, this lap top I'm on is at least 6 years old now.

[kajero]

I am not sure exactly what type of bicycle you are talking about.

My SO has a TREK e-assist bike. It only assists when you pedal it. He is 83 years old and could not possible go riding without the help. We participated in a 25 mile tour fundraiser last week. Even with the e-assist, he had to stop quite a few times to rest. But he was riding.

I guess if I were a nay-sayer to this type of bicycle, he would never go riding (even if he does upset me with his riding habits). MY SO also enjoys riding with a group I go with . . . something that would be impossible without the e-assist. I guess you have to evaluate what the battery powered bicycles are used for and if you can accept that.

I am 20 years younger than my SO so I ride on my own. But maybe one day if it is between riding and no riding. . . .

[ridebikeme]

HA! I love this thread, thanks Wahine! AS a mechanic, I've always wondered why on earth people would spend so much on their shifting... as you said many people can't even remember to charge their cellphone(and I belong to that club)and what happens when you are riding far from home. Will there be a shop close by to help if you have issues? And what if that shop doesn't carry D12?

In addition to my shop, I worked for bike touring companies for 16 years, and we were riding in the "sticks", I was the only support. I'm so thankful that I'm not doing that now only because I wouldn't be carrying D12 parts with me. While the bike companies want us all to continue to spend our money with them, in my mind, there certainly are many items that would be more beneficial to all of us and that would have a bigger impact than "electronic gizmos." Ok, let me go plug in my phone...

[Skippyak]

I want though LOL.

[Owlie]

HA! I love this thread, thanks Wahine! AS a mechanic, I've always wondered why on earth people would spend so much on their shifting... as you said many people can't even remember to charge their cellphone(and I belong to that club)and what happens when you are riding far from home. Will there be a shop close by to help if you have issues? And what if that shop doesn't carry D12?

In addition to my shop, I worked for bike touring companies for 16 years, and we were riding in the "sticks", I was the only support. I'm so thankful that I'm not doing that now only because I wouldn't be carrying D12 parts with me. While the bike companies want us all to continue to spend our money with them, in my mind, there certainly are many items that would be more beneficial to all of us and that would have a bigger impact than "electronic gizmos." Ok, let me go plug in my phone...

I'm not entirely sure how DI2 works, but I imagine there's a whole lot more that can go wrong with it than mechanical shifters, and probably a whole lot more expensive to repair. Certainly more expensive to replace!

I suppose if you're a pro and those milliseconds count, go for it.

[OakLeaf]

In addition to my shop, I worked for bike touring companies for 16 years, and we were riding in the "sticks", I was the only support. I'm so thankful that I'm not doing that now only because I wouldn't be carrying D12 parts with me.

I'm reminded of one of the centuries I did in southeastern Ohio when someone flatted one of his tubular tires.

No chase vehicle with a spare wheel, very obviously. No spare tire. No patch kit, sewing kit or glue. The nearest bike shop of *any* kind was probably 50 rural miles away, and it wouldn't have been the kind of bike shop that would have had tubies in stock anyway. Plus, it was a Sunday.

Three years later I'm still trying to figure out what the guy was thinking going out on a ride like that with those wheels on. At least with tubies you *have* another pair of wheels with clinchers. Not like swapping out your shifters and derailleurs.