Shimano and other sponsor/partners are kind enough to sponsor our gran fondo series and well as provide us some product to try, review and share with our participants including Shimano's Di2 electronic shifting system. I have been riding the Di2 now on a Wilier Cento Uno road bike as well as the Wilier Cento Uno Crono TT bike.
Here is a quick mid year review after some hard use riding and racing all season.
The lighter shift levers are noticeably lighter on climbs and better for maneuverability. The bike just feels more snappy and responsive. (I will brag about Wilier later--what a bike). The Di2 shift levers might look like the old ones but there are no guts inside, just some electronics to send the signal to the derailleurs. Shifting only requires a tap of your fingers and you can shift under full power.
The TT Di2 has shifters on the bar ends
and where you brake
The road bike has shifters in a single spot.
Rumor has it, Mark Cavandish has a sprint button
on the drops.
The Electronics so far have been flawless. No cables, just wires that are internal so maintenance is zero. It never goes out of tune and the front derailleur self adjusts automatically no matter what freewheel cog you are on in the rear, i.e., you front derailleur never rubs. Rain? no problem. I wash mine with a hose often too.
The battery blows me away. I charged it in February, then a gain in June even though it did not need it. If only the iphone could do that.
Complaints--none really, well maybe the price but they recently announced that an Ultegra version is coming. I would like to see a wireless shift system using ANT. Seams easy to me. The battery is not bulky or heavy as it is now but I bet they can make is smaller since the charge lasts nearly 3 months.
Conclusion: I was skeptical coming in to this electronic thing but now I see. Say goodbye to external cabling. Just for the lack of maintenance, Di2 is worth it alone.
Hunter Ziesing for Echelon Gran Fondo
All Echelon Partner Sponsors
Hunter Ziesing for Echelon Gran Fondo
All Echelon Partner Sponsors
Wilier Di2 ready Cento Uno
