The Electronic era in cycling

[Paul Ruinaard]

3 hours ago, liebenw said:

For me it was a relatively easy decision. Was still riding 2x10 and I told myself that once the drivetrain was "moer toe",  I would upgrade to GX AXS. About 8 rides in and absolutely loving it.

I'm on Campy 11 spd on road bike. It's going to take a very long time to ride it "moer toe" and even then I would never afford their electronic groupsets 😞

 

I have Campy 10 speed Record on my C40 - its 22 years old and still shifts beautifully and with a very re-assuring clunk on the shift. That groupo is absolutely bullet proof. 

[liebenw]

16 hours ago, Paul Ruinaard said:

I have Campy 10 speed Record on my C40 - its 22 years old and still shifts beautifully and with a very re-assuring clunk on the shift. That groupo is absolutely bullet proof. 

Had 15 years of hassle free riding on my set. Even though technology has moved on that Record groupset is still the bomb

[MudLark]

Let me add this.

The world has seen all the electronic and quartz watches you could ever imagine. And yet high end watches are still predominantly analogue. By and large it's the cheaper stuff that is electronic.

Then there was the CD player and now there is pure digital file. But you can still buy vinyl (being pressed again) and turntables, some of very high quality.

It's hard to be sure what the future holds for cycling. But I suspect there will always be a market for good quality mechanical groupsets and rim brake bikes and parts and that that market will always have suppliers. It might be fairly niche and cult but it will be there. It might also end up being, like many watches, a very high quality market. Hard to be sure but maybe.

[throttles]

I've been using electronic shifting soon after Shimano 9070 Di2 was launched.

In almost 5 years I've only ran out out of battery twice, both due to unplanned long rides. after weeks of high mileage.

I don't think I'll be able to go back to mechanical shifting. 

I current still use on a weekly basis the 9070, 9170 and now 9270 di2 group sets.

I like the comparison between watches and new tech. There is a place for everything and everyones personal preferences.

For now it looks like Groupsets are going electronic, perhaps there will be a return. But like LP's and watches the older gen tech will come at a much bigger "Premium" for "Vintage" components.

 

 

[MudLark]

17 minutes ago, throttles said:

For now it looks like Groupsets are going electronic, perhaps there will be a return. But like LP's and watches the older gen tech will come at a much bigger "Premium" for "Vintage" components.

 

 

I think maybe both. Cheap mass production bicycles tend to use all the more traditional types of components (like rim brakes). I think it's probably going to take a bit of time before they become electronic. Although with modern electronics it is hard to tell given how fast the technology tends to move downstream. But conceivably they could be quite rubbishy as well. But I do think that there may be a market for premium analog components. Time will tell!

[dave303e]

1 hour ago, MudLark said:

Let me add this.

The world has seen all the electronic and quartz watches you could ever imagine. And yet high end watches are still predominantly analogue. By and large it's the cheaper stuff that is electronic.

Then there was the CD player and now there is pure digital file. But you can still buy vinyl (being pressed again) and turntables, some of very high quality.

It's hard to be sure what the future holds for cycling. But I suspect there will always be a market for good quality mechanical groupsets and rim brake bikes and parts and that that market will always have suppliers. It might be fairly niche and cult but it will be there. It might also end up being, like many watches, a very high quality market. Hard to be sure but maybe.

people also bought power balance bracelets, almond milk and other such things, so I dunno why you are surprised they are pressing vinyl still...

[DieselnDust]

22 hours ago, JA-Q001 said:

Strange enough Campagnolo seems to be the only one going parallel electric only on their top Group atm. Maybe they don't see a cost effective way to truly scale it down.

They have a lot of traditional frame builders in Italy who have customer who spec a bike with mechanical. They would be killing their market. Their market share is is also much smaller than Shimano and SRAM so that would limit trickle down somewhat till they gain more volume for better pricing which is your point around economical way 

[Frosty]

On 6/30/2022 at 2:47 PM, Jehosefat said:

But why?

The frame would be completely crap for everything. It would be way too heavy as a road bike and/or way too flimsy as a MTB. You don't need the same gear range for Road vs MTB. You don't have the same geometry across bike types either so 1 frame for everything would be useless.

Who said I need, or want, performance?
Seems you also missed the point... that I would only go electronic, if I get this kind of bike.

I'd want one bike for "I could ride anywhere, any time without major restrictions"; it's the kind of bike one takes on holiday.

If I want an easier feel on the road, swap out the wider wheels for skinny
Need to ride some dirt roads that cuts a very long detour, then use the wider wheels
Fancy a simple coffee ride, go with some short flat bar.

Then, the mind-f*** that it plays on some people when they see a single speed keeping up in a bunch on the road.

[aquaratza]

I'm electronic everything; the shifter (AXS), the dropper and the bike itself... but the best value for money has been the AXS shifter. To date I've never run out of shifter or dropper battery. I probably charge them every two weeks on average, and they're still "green"/not indicating low power. I've had the shifters now for just over a year.

The dropper is great, easy on my thumb, but it is overpriced for the improvement compared to a Lynne dropper.

Edited July 2, 2022 by aquaratza

[SwissVan]

Electronics...... Its life Jim, but not as we know it

[guidodg]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5ONG_oLLvR/

 

 

[PygaSchmyga]

4 hours ago, guidodg said:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5ONG_oLLvR/

i was wondering when this would rear its head!

[PygaSchmyga]

On 6/30/2022 at 10:11 AM, Jbr said:

Just like discs won’t make you faster, electronic shifting won’t win you races and shouldn’t be a deciding factor. When I buy a bike I look at how aero and light it is and also the opinion of people who rode them (how it feels when cornering fast for example), so mostly frame and wheels.

I’m looking at buying a bike in France for when I’m over here on holidays, renting is so expensive. Will most likely be a mechanical/rim brake for cost/going over the mountains as opposed to my Cape Town bike that is aero/not so light but not so heavy either and has Di2 ultegra

I don't agree with you about discs.  The advent of ABS breaks enabled cars to go much faster because they could stop better/faster and the principle surely applies to cycling as well.  If you know you can apply your brakes later and have better stopping power/control you will be able to descend faster

[Prince Albert Cycles]

Just my experience on old vs new after owning and running a tiny shop in the sticks for 8 years. If you are visiting, touring through or doing Freedom Challenge and is using older tech we make plans to keep you going if having a mechanical. If on electronics you wait for the courier to deliver.

[The Ouzo]

21 minutes ago, PygaSchmyga said:

ABS breaks enabled cars to go much faster because they could stop better/faster

Just a point of contention here, ABS as a system does not enable you to stop faster. ABS is as its acronym states, Antilock Braking System, it is there to stop the wheels from locking, a locked wheel means no traction, not tractions means no control.

It may even increase braking distance on certain surfaces and situations, but you will still have control of the vehicle.

Edited April 3 by The Ouzo

[Jbr]

29 minutes ago, PygaSchmyga said:

The advent of ABS breaks enabled cars to go much faster because they could stop better/faster 

That is absolutely not true.

ESP does allow you to accelerate faster, ABS does not allow you to brake faster, it allows you to brake more safely if you have no idea what you're doing.

Most race cars and race motorbikes can't be competitive with ABS on, but are faster with a proper traction control on though

Edited April 3 by Jbr