This is super interesting... One of the things I love about eTap is that the main brake lever does not move side-to-side. I hate that about mechanical when I am in the drops and want to lightly control brakes-- it is more difficult when the brake lever can squirt out sideways from my fingertips. The Di2 complaint I have heard is that riding with gloves and Di2 is very difficult. SRAM's eTap shifters are perfect in both accounts.
The Shimano patent seems to address the tactile challenges of the small Di2 buttons by reverting back to a little of the mechanical downside.
I bet Shimano could go hybrid wireless today with that invention. It seems like it could transmit shift commands into the system through the D-Fly. Or, they could create a more robust D-Fly optimized for high reliability. Before Shimano goes full wireless, they need to decide how riders will change shift modes, initiate microadjustments, and see status. (All the stuff the Junction A does.)
I wonder what really makes that patent special? eTap shifters have been out for a while. So, is this special because of the shift button movement action, the LED indicators, the haptic feature, the self-charging battery, something else?
The Shimano patent seems to address the tactile challenges of the small Di2 buttons by reverting back to a little of the mechanical downside.
I bet Shimano could go hybrid wireless today with that invention. It seems like it could transmit shift commands into the system through the D-Fly. Or, they could create a more robust D-Fly optimized for high reliability. Before Shimano goes full wireless, they need to decide how riders will change shift modes, initiate microadjustments, and see status. (All the stuff the Junction A does.)
I wonder what really makes that patent special? eTap shifters have been out for a while. So, is this special because of the shift button movement action, the LED indicators, the haptic feature, the self-charging battery, something else?