http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...;;page=unread#unread

Does anyone know how the blipbox attaches to the frame? I know its a quarter mount turn system like garmin use but is it attached using rubber bands as in the garmin system? From the pics I've seen it seems not. Anyone know if its possible to mount below the stem (or anywhere else for that matter)?

Here is a shot of Rinny's ride at DSM Tri a couple weeks ago.

Maybe on the road, but the front end of the TT system is a mess. Those buttons look like a total afterthought and the front wiring system/junction boxes are a mess.

TriRig's take definitely doesn't agree with you either- http://www.tririg.com/...e_SRAM_eTap_Wireless

u need to have something for eTap ver 2 ;) gotta keep the money coming in u know lol

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What about them looks like an afterthought to you? Because they aren't integrated with brake levers? To me it's a big benefit to have complete freedom in mounting them anywhere I want and to be able to use any brake levers I want. The junction box is only as much of a mess as you let it be.

Haven't read the TriRig's article yet but do they have issues with the function and features or the fact that it isn't actually completely wireless?

funny, i read two reviews and agreed with both; the roadies at VeloNews loved them and Nick at TriRig trashed them.


i would love to get some on my next road bike but for tri, i have to agree with Nick; tri bikes usually have "bar end" shifters and SRAM didn't make any.
this is SRAM's display at Interbike. they way they wrapped the bars amplified the "afterthought" aspect. this is the best they can do?

adding one note: can these be used for UCI TTs? how will it affect the bar length requirement? i know Di2 and cable get measured differently.

Agreed, total afterthought. The road version looks nice and as it should be though. I was expecting more from SRAM.

they don't get measured differently. all are to furthest possible point. di2 fixed, mech furthest reach of lever at any point in arc swung while shifting(for reach and height above pads)

Just read the TR review. Their major complaint with the function of the blips is that it's a departure from the traditional approach of using one set of shifters for each derailleur split on the left and right side of the cockpit. So different is automatically bad. They claim it's a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. This is one of the biggest appeals of eTap to me. It's not a solution to a problem but it is an innovation and a better way in some opinions. I don't need 4 buttons on each side of the cockpit and will never accidentally hit the up when I want the down. It seems completely logical to me that one hand shifts up and the other down. Plus the fact that I can position the blips anywhere I want them. Can't shift the front with 1 hand - absolutely true but so what? The blipbox is bigger than the Di2 junction box - also true and may very well make it more challenging to integrate cleanly but a relatively minor issue IMO. Then they start really reaching for things to bash like the estimated battery life of about a month for the derailleurs vs several months for Di2. I charge my Garmin before every ride. I don't expect popping off the REMOVABLE batteries to charge them once a month will bother me. Not to mention the convenience of carrying a spare for swapping on the fly if necessary. And suggesting that triathletes will not like the little CR2032 battery in the blipbox because it isn't environmentally friendly - seriously? It's pretty clear that there is some bias in that review which isn't really surprising considering TR markets products that are designed specifically for Di2 integration that won't be compatible with eTap.

Well, it kind of depends on what impression you are trying to give. TR included this photo in their review which does make it look like a mess.


But with some attention to detail you could have something more like this depending on the specific bike you have to work with

did they deliberately make that such a mess? I can get cleaner than that on a p2sl with a traditional stem.

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Right - it'll take some time for bar and frame manufacturers to optimize installation around this thing.

That said, I'm sure the next generation will have a BlipBox half the size of this one.

I was jazzed for sram wireless, but will wait until they make a bar end shifter. I don't need shifters on the brake hoods and would like the traditional bar ends that are wire free. I can't imagine that they won't make these.

Great for the road but obviously not ready for tri. I will wait for V2 and enjoy my Di2 till then.

The Tririg article came off as fairly biased, AKA shimano handing them some freebies for the article. I agree that for TT it is still a wired system and takes time to setup, but i would think that could be counterbalanced due to the ability to swap batteries. I am betting they will have a dedicated TT setup in the next year, but for right now their focus has been on the road, which is absolutely amazing.

still, the way SRAM envision shifting with the TT-setup is just not ideal. I have to agree with TriRig, Shimano's is much more intuitive.

It looks like that TriRig photo came from the SRAM booth at Interbike. Apparently that's how they wanted the world to see it.

I think it really depends on what is your ultimate objective? For TT applications you are correct there is not a significant advantage, except for battery access and swapping. The one handed shifting is something i am not sold on at this moment, i will have to try it out before i give an opinion. As a roadie it is pretty exciting, for TT applications i am guessing Sram will have a true wireless system in a year.

Definitely a personal opinion based on your experience and preferences. If you drove a car with paddle shifters you might find the eTap very intuitive. Di2 isn't so much intuitive as it is familiar - up/down on the rear der with your right hand, up/down on the front with your left. That's what we are all accustomed to since the day we started riding bikes with gears. For me, on a TT bike where I'll be aero the majority of the time and infrequently need to shift the front ring, I really like the idea of a single button on each extension to do my shifting.

I didn't realize before today that the blip box is on a garmin mount. Seems like it would be rather trivial then to mount it between the aero extensions underneath a BTA bottle, directly in front of the stem. It would be nearly invisible.

I don't see being able to shift the front dérailleur one handed as a big deal, but if you wanted to you could easily set up 2 blips on the right extension only, one on top for downshifts and one on top for up shifts (or vice versa) and just squeeze both when you wanted to shift the front.

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I generally agree with the criticism that the blipbox is large and more difficult to integrate cleanly but I don't think it's a deal breaker and can be taken care of with some thought and ingenuity.I don't care if it's hidden as long as it's clean like the example in the Canyon pic.

The SRAM junction doesn't fit in the TriRig Alpha X junction cavity.

There we go, i was wondering why they had such a negative view.