I ride in T-Shirts and hoodies with shorts over my lycra bibs, brakes on my fixed gear, disc brakes on my aluminium road bike and I prefer driving manual transmission over DSG/Auto. It's good to try new things, even if it's just to figure out that you don't like the change, but each to their own really! Just rock whatever works for you mate!
The new sram red xplr addresses some of your concerns. The derailleur is tucked in shadow style, and they protect the battery better physically (not sure about water). Also, it's supposed to be a better setup that avoids bent hanger problems. However, so far, it's only in red which is $$, and it doesn't get away from the whole electronic problem which is that in addition to all the physical things that can go wrong on any system, you can have the electronics die. Normal day to day weekend warrior stuff (me), I prefer the electronic setup because maintenance amounts to battery replacement rather than cable replacements.
@@TheEnduranceStudio Actually my biggest problem with the new group is the 460% range when I'm on a mullet with 500% now... (which I think I could take to 520%). It would take me awhile to talk myself into taking a hit there.
The sight on the pistol I carry every day uses a battery. Lithium non rechargeable, lasts 2 years. So I replace it on my birthday every year. I'll wait for shimano to catch up to that standard.
You have to be insane to run, electronic, shifting, and ultra races, especially if you’re towards the front of the race because you do not have the time for recharge. Good work again bud!
Very interessting podcast and thoughts. The reason people choose electronic for ultra(races!) is that it usually works flawless and doesnt fatigue your hands than mechanical shifting. The shimano battery (i ride di2 myself, so not a hater) has a hige downside because of the battery that is conceiled in the frame. You cant charge ir so easily than swapping a sram spare battery. The other downside wirh shimano is the cables which actually introduce more components that can fail. Looking at the thin cable that feeds my derailliour makes me anxious. Even on bikepacking trips the shimano battery is a downside. You need your bike next to a power socket or leave a powerbank to charge. Imagine checking in to a hotel. They will not letnyou take your bike to your room. They will usually have a rolm to store your bike which might have power socket or not. With sram you just take your battery out and carry it to your room. Why are there almost no shimano electronic groups at unbound? Probably because sram completely has overtaken shimano with their development of wireless, gear capacity and compatibility. Currently still on shimano di2 but most likely my next groupset will be from sram. If i would go around the world on my bike, i would ride mechanical on an aluminum or even better steel bike, with a mid range shimano group set where i know i can get spare parts almost everywhere in the world. For everything else i believe electronic shifting is fine. Just my thoughts on the topic ✌🏻😊
I had SRAM Transmission on a few bikes and on my gravel bike I have the XPLR, but I went back to Shimano XTR this month because I miss the mech feel. Also, I had a lot of issues with my batteries dying, also a few times on trail the entire system failed and said I needed to connect to the internet to update but I was in Moab with no signal.
honestly both…I’m not sure what it is but I do know electronic shifting feels dead. I like that it shifts the same every time, that was amazing. But I did over 4k miles and 130k feet of climbing on my gravel bike that had mech Sram Apex in 2023, this year I did about the same with Sram Force AXS and I feel that in 2023 I had a connection to the bike. I also love that as I got weaker on rides 4 hrs + or 3hrs + the tension was harder to shift. It was part of the experience for me. Now with AXS it’s just the same and at the end of longer rides I felt myself slamming the shifter because I’m so pumped up😂 but I mean I just missed the mech feel all around.
@@EdwardDennis-eq9sr thanks for your perspective thats super interesting. Also having the system fail and need to connect to the internet isn't very practical. This system is designed for 90% of the riders that probably ride 4 hours or less per ride and not too far from home.
I cycled 2950 km from Portugal to Poland through the Portuguese mountains and through the Pyrenees on Canyon Endurance Shimano Ultegra di2 no charging the battery all the way . The battery level 20% left after that tour .
Gravel and cross bikes with DI2 (XT/GRX/Ultegra) and a gravel bike with Red 12spd XPLR…. For packing and Ultra, XTR or mechanical GRX are likely unbeatable…. For supported and/or events where an extra battery isn’t a huge hurdle, SRAM edges DI2 - the replaceable battery is a winner…. It’s kinda the same argument as cars… Normally aspirated vs electric…. Gas stations are ubiquitous and it’s reliable…. And, Shimano is not an innovator in components…. Well manufactured, reliable, but slow to market…. SRAM innovates.. And, lately, their stuff works well…
I ride in T-Shirts and hoodies with shorts over my lycra bibs, brakes on my fixed gear, disc brakes on my aluminium road bike and I prefer driving manual transmission over DSG/Auto. It's good to try new things, even if it's just to figure out that you don't like the change, but each to their own really! Just rock whatever works for you mate!
The new sram red xplr addresses some of your concerns. The derailleur is tucked in shadow style, and they protect the battery better physically (not sure about water). Also, it's supposed to be a better setup that avoids bent hanger problems. However, so far, it's only in red which is $$, and it doesn't get away from the whole electronic problem which is that in addition to all the physical things that can go wrong on any system, you can have the electronics die. Normal day to day weekend warrior stuff (me), I prefer the electronic setup because maintenance amounts to battery replacement rather than cable replacements.
whoa $700 for a derailleur 🤮
@@TheEnduranceStudio Yeah, I'm not hot for the 'red' version. :)
@@TheEnduranceStudio Actually my biggest problem with the new group is the 460% range when I'm on a mullet with 500% now... (which I think I could take to 520%). It would take me awhile to talk myself into taking a hit there.
Thanks!
Amazing! I much appreciate the super thanks!🙏🏻
The sight on the pistol I carry every day uses a battery. Lithium non rechargeable, lasts 2 years. So I replace it on my birthday every year. I'll wait for shimano to catch up to that standard.
Haha!!
You have to be insane to run, electronic, shifting, and ultra races, especially if you’re towards the front of the race because you do not have the time for recharge. Good work again bud!
thanks. yes totally agree but ppl are doing it. Doesn't make sense to me.
Very interessting podcast and thoughts.
The reason people choose electronic for ultra(races!) is that it usually works flawless and doesnt fatigue your hands than mechanical shifting.
The shimano battery (i ride di2 myself, so not a hater) has a hige downside because of the battery that is conceiled in the frame. You cant charge ir so easily than swapping a sram spare battery.
The other downside wirh shimano is the cables which actually introduce more components that can fail. Looking at the thin cable that feeds my derailliour makes me anxious. Even on bikepacking trips the shimano battery is a downside. You need your bike next to a power socket or leave a powerbank to charge.
Imagine checking in to a hotel. They will not letnyou take your bike to your room. They will usually have a rolm to store your bike which might have power socket or not. With sram you just take your battery out and carry it to your room.
Why are there almost no shimano electronic groups at unbound? Probably because sram completely has overtaken shimano with their development of wireless, gear capacity and compatibility.
Currently still on shimano di2 but most likely my next groupset will be from sram.
If i would go around the world on my bike, i would ride mechanical on an aluminum or even better steel bike, with a mid range shimano group set where i know i can get spare parts almost everywhere in the world. For everything else i believe electronic shifting is fine. Just my thoughts on the topic ✌🏻😊
I agree about the shimano wires. Instead of a somewhat vulnerable sram battery, you have a delicate wire.
Downtube Shifters for the win 🤙🤙
of course I can't believe I didn't think about that before. How bout go all the way and just go fixie for all 🤣🤣🤣
I had SRAM Transmission on a few bikes and on my gravel bike I have the XPLR, but I went back to Shimano XTR this month because I miss the mech feel. Also, I had a lot of issues with my batteries dying, also a few times on trail the entire system failed and said I needed to connect to the internet to update but I was in Moab with no signal.
Did you miss the mech feel at the shifter or cassette/derailleur?
honestly both…I’m not sure what it is but I do know electronic shifting feels dead. I like that it shifts the same every time, that was amazing. But I did over 4k miles and 130k feet of climbing on my gravel bike that had mech Sram Apex in 2023, this year I did about the same with Sram Force AXS and I feel that in 2023 I had a connection to the bike. I also love that as I got weaker on rides 4 hrs + or 3hrs + the tension was harder to shift. It was part of the experience for me. Now with AXS it’s just the same and at the end of longer rides I felt myself slamming the shifter because I’m so pumped up😂 but I mean I just missed the mech feel all around.
@@EdwardDennis-eq9sr thanks for your perspective thats super interesting. Also having the system fail and need to connect to the internet isn't very practical. This system is designed for 90% of the riders that probably ride 4 hours or less per ride and not too far from home.
I cycled 2950 km from Portugal to Poland through the Portuguese mountains and through the Pyrenees on Canyon Endurance Shimano Ultegra di2 no charging the battery all the way . The battery level 20% left after that tour .
this is super impressive.
Gravel and cross bikes with DI2 (XT/GRX/Ultegra) and a gravel bike with Red 12spd XPLR…. For packing and Ultra, XTR or mechanical GRX are likely unbeatable…. For supported and/or events where an extra battery isn’t a huge hurdle, SRAM edges DI2 - the replaceable battery is a winner…. It’s kinda the same argument as cars… Normally aspirated vs electric…. Gas stations are ubiquitous and it’s reliable…. And, Shimano is not an innovator in components…. Well manufactured, reliable, but slow to market…. SRAM innovates.. And, lately, their stuff works well…
great points here. thanks for watching and commenting!
Those testimonies are like a horror movie to me. I will never have a bike that needs a battery. Also, I maintain 6 bikes for my kids.