Am looking at upgrading my current Road Bike and my question is which groupset would you go for .
The bike will be full Carbon and i am considering the Ultegra DI2 Electric .
Problem is that this costs a great deal more than the Mechanical Groupsets .
What would you guys go for ?
Thanks in advance .
Lee
Originally Posted by leechaz
Di2 is fantastic, but as you have seen expensive, also if you are caught out with a low battery you will lose the front mech and then ultimately the rear mech, personally if you want to put a top group on go for 7900 DA as its stood the test of time for most pro teams for a few years and if you trawl ebay you can pick up some decent kit for much less than Ultegra Di2
While the previous poster is right and it's good advice.
However I like toys and as its your ' race' bike I would go for the di2.
Electronic on a road bike is plain wrong.
You will probably find a few nay sayers on here, I did, but I love my Di2/Ui2 setup!
Yes it's expensive when compared to a normal Ultegra groupset but I love the reliability and smoothness. Make sure you keep an eye the battery charge, it's only takes a button press, and you won't get caught short. I have done about eight Century rides on mine and not had a single problem.
If you do go Di2 then get a satellite shifter for the flats. Brilliant for climbing!
Last edited by Matt London; 2nd March 2013 at 16:09.
The
Thanks Dangermouse
Yes that is the only problem if the battery goes whilst out .
The 7900 is awesome you are right there ,
I will get some exact costings for the two and see the difference.
Thx for yoiur reply
Lee
Thank you
i am going to try it out on a Demo Bike as all am being told is that it is great to use .
Will let you know .
thx
Lee
I'm not going back to mechanical again. I've had electric DA and now Ultegra, and both have been superb. The shifting is way beyond what any mechanical system can offer. Also, once adjusted, they stay adjusted. Perfect shift every time.
1) the battery won't run out - one charge gives some 6-12 months of gear changes.
2) all the gear but no idea? What is your current riding level - carbon + Di2/Ui2 suggests fairly advanced and racing? If not I absolutely would not go above the latest mechanical Ultegra, which to be fair isn't much different from the latest generation 105.
3) mechanical 105 is cheap to run and replace, is high quality and is a workhorse and if you know what you're doing can be fully stripped and serviced at home. Most mechanicals out on the road can be dealt with.
4) yes the pros all use electronic group sets, but they have mechanics.
5) I would miss the "feel" of mechanical gear changes. Electronic changes just feel wrong at the lever end.
Last edited by ach5; 2nd March 2013 at 21:00.
Thank you Matt .
It is a tough call as it is a great deal more expensive as you would know .
My thought process is that if i do not go with it i will regret it and will only want to upgrade down the line
so if i can stretch to it now why not .
Can i ask what you mean by Satelite Shifter though ??
Lee
To quote the great Eddy Merckx;
"Don't buy upgrades - ride up grades"
Riding more and losing weight is the best "upgrade" possible in cycling
This!
I (once upon a time) used to spend a LOT of money on bikes. Back in the 80's my touring bike was £600+ (531ST, Deore XT gears and brakes, TA Cyclotouriste, Specialised hubs, Mavic rims, etc., etc.), which doesn't sound much but this is 30 years ago!
I would probably now not buy more than 105 as a groupset (I had Ultegra on a 531 pro frame, again "back in the day - when shifters were on the down tube) but my level isn't what it was and I could probably never justify the money for even Ultegra (let alone the electronic sets).
I still find that on my old aluminium framed RSX/105 equipped clunker of a road bike - no one passes me up hills. Fitness and personal weight count for much more than the kit. It's only when you get to serious levels that the psychological boost counts for much.
If I won the lottery though I'd be full carbon and electronic Shimano groupset in a heartbeat.
Cheers,
It is an accessory that allows you to shift the rear gears while your hands are on the flats of the bars. I got mine from here http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/s...600/aid:516814
If already have a decent wheelset and frame go for it. Alternatively you may want to go old school and get a set of wooden wheels, only drink water on the bike and only eat jam sandwiches. Some of the old boys swear by it ;)
Shimano is good for fishing reels.
Campagnolo for bicycles.
Seriously, just get the one you really want otherwise it's just going to eat at you until you upgrade later.
Oi! You forgot wearing ray bans, head bands and steak for breakfast every morning. And dont even get me started on kit that doesnt match.
If you want Di2 then buy Di2, its a fantastic inovation for cycling and provides far smoother shifting and especially under tension, trims nicely so no more rubbing chain or fiddling with stretched cables and you can leave it in gear with no cable stretch occuring.
The battery lasts several thousand miles and warns when low but even low will get you home no worries, in the next 2-3 years electronic gearing will be the norm with electronic suspension both front and rear for MTB following hot on its heals, the same dinosaurs that ridicule it currently probably had the same attitude when we moved from downtube shifters too.
My logic is regardless of standard buy what you can afford and buy what you like but be prepared to feel a little silly when you are huffing and puffing up Boxhill and a 70 year old man on a steel frame with downtube shifters and a cycling cap floats past you!
RIAC
I went Athena, with Chorus shifters. Old school bike though.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21362309290.857359.jpg
Thanks for your reply China .
I am going to try out a Demo Bike with the DI 2 on it tomorrow and i am sure it will be great .
Like you say , once you have it there will be no going back .
Lee
If you're thinking about starting out with a mechanical group and then switching to DI2 later then make sure that your new frame has support for all the DI2 wiring.
Hi Matt
i may have worded my Post wrong .
What i am doing is buying a complete new bike and keeping the one i have now for the winter .
My shop i go to has a Frameset which i want and he will build the complete bike to my spec .
Like the idea of the Satelite , i will ask him about that .
Thank you again .
Lee
Cheers Lee!! got me looking at whether DI 2 will fit on my frame set now!
Craig
Hi Craig .
Hope you are well mate .
Didnt know you were a cyclist ?
I am trying out a Bike with DI2 tomorrow , all everyone is saying is that it is amazing .
Us Boys with our Toys ??!!!
Look after yourself .
Lee
Thanks Mate. hope your well too. Reading the posts above and looking at various reviews it's looking like its the way forward. Got back into Road bikes last year and bought a 'Look' carbon 586. Love the bike but wont know until i enquire if its possible to retro fit DI2 to it then of course theres the cost. we'll see.
cheers, Craig
You kept that quiet Craig !!
Very nice Bike you have got there , i bought a Bianchi last March but am now looking at the Cannondale Super six Evo Black Edition .
My budget keeps getting blown out of the water ?????!!!!
It is a great hobby though and a great way to keep fit .
God knows why i want another bike but i do , maybe it is because i want full carbon bike and as i have now looked into the different makes more and all the specifications , there are some amazing bikes out there .
Let me know how you get on .
Lee
Thanks Kerry .
That will be me huffing and puffing up the hills and someone cruises past me , there are some very fit cyclists out there !!
My thinking is like you said , if i can afford it then go for it as i will regret it otherwise .
It has got to be the way to go .
You obviously think it is worth having .
Lee
It is really nice, easy to setup and totally low maintainance, the thing I like most is leaving the bike in gear rather than taking the tension out the cables and that it trims so nice and is great going from big ring to small ring on the hardest of hills
RIAC
I like anything that is low maintenance thats for sure .
The owner of the shop i go to has it and he has echoed exactly what you have said Kerry especially what you said about when going up hills .
I am looking forward to trying it out tomorrow , not on the make of bike i want to buy, but at least i can try the DI2 out though .
Lee
So easy to fit too, bike shops will tell you its rocket science and I know a few that charge £150 for installation but its a doddle
RIAC
I will echo that. Fitted my own and it is much easier to install than a mechanical groupset.
As you have already spent time on a standard set up you will really appreciate electronic. I wouldn't say it is 'Night and Day' but it is very nice. The satellite shifter seals the deal for me.
Please let us know how you get on.
Matt
I spent the money I saved on installation on the satellite shifters great addition to the set
RIAC
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote