Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike

Mar 4, 20 15:52

Post #1 of 22 (2881 views)

I'm getting my wife her first tri bike soon, and there's the (premium) option of going to a Di2 setup instead of Ultegra mechanical. I've never used an electronic system, always had (and been able to wrench on) mechanical systems.

That being said, she has concerns about reaching from the bull horns out to the extensions to shift; she likes the idea of having the buttons on the bull horns (can't say as I blame her for that one, it's pretty convenient).

I just want to get her what's going to be stable, trouble free, and give her the best riding experience.

Thoughts or opinions on the two options?

- John
"Have courage, and be kind."

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [OtterJohn] [ In reply to ]

Mar 4, 20 15:59

Post #2 of 22 (2874 views)

OtterJohn wrote:

I'm getting my wife her first tri bike soon, and there's the (premium) option of going to a Di2 setup instead of Ultegra mechanical. I've never used an electronic system, always had (and been able to wrench on) mechanical systems.

That being said, she has concerns about reaching from the bull horns out to the extensions to shift; she likes the idea of having the buttons on the bull horns (can't say as I blame her for that one, it's pretty convenient).

I just want to get her what's going to be stable, trouble free, and give her the best riding experience.

Thoughts or opinions on the two options?

If she's concerned about shifter placement, Di2 is a fantastic option. The main benefit of electronic on a TT/Tri bike (and to some degree bikes in general) is that you have light-action shift buttons that can be positioned anywhere, including in multiple places. A very common scheme is to stick shifters on both the extensions and the base bars: this way, you can shift without adjusting your posture while on the aerobars, and also shift while pedaling out of the saddle or cornering on the base bars.

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [OtterJohn] [ In reply to ]

Mar 4, 20 16:54

Post #3 of 22 (2825 views)

Di2 for the win

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [OtterJohn] [ In reply to ]

Mar 4, 20 17:06

Post #4 of 22 (2815 views)

Di2 is awesome. It changes the way you ride, because shifts cost nothing. If you can afford it, it is worth it.

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [OtterJohn] [ In reply to ]

Mar 4, 20 17:20

Post #5 of 22 (2789 views)

I hate di2 on road bikes, but it’s fantastic on tri bikes for the exact reason you mentioned. Makes going uphill a lot more tolerable

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [OtterJohn] [ In reply to ]

Mar 4, 20 17:26

Post #6 of 22 (2780 views)

If she wants the bells and whistles, give her the bells and whistles. Then when you want the next big thing for your bike, you have some leverage. Happy wife, happy life.

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [OtterJohn] [ In reply to ]

Mar 4, 20 17:36

Post #7 of 22 (2763 views)

I’m surprised mechanical group sets still exist to be honest. Not sure I can be convinced of a downside other than cost.

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [OtterJohn] [ In reply to ]

Mar 4, 20 17:44

Post #8 of 22 (2752 views)

Di2 for any day of the week ending with "day"

Also, there are alternatives to the standard bullhorn shifter, as one can also run the new climberswitches (SW-R9150) into junction boxes. A cheaper way of being able to shift from the bullhorn (assuming you have the R671 extension shifters).

Last edited by: echappist: Mar 4, 20 17:50

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [indianacyclist] [ In reply to ]

Mar 4, 20 17:46

Post #9 of 22 (2750 views)

indianacyclist wrote:

I hate di2 on road bikes, but it’s fantastic on tri bikes for the exact reason you mentioned. Makes going uphill a lot more tolerable

this!
me to
tt bike is best place for di2

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [indianacyclist] [ In reply to ]

Mar 4, 20 17:51

Post #10 of 22 (2744 views)

indianacyclist wrote:

I hate di2 on road bikes, but it’s fantastic on tri bikes for the exact reason you mentioned. Makes going uphill a lot more tolerable

....just curious why?

1st time I tried Di2 on a road bike (1st generation Di2)......lets just say I’d never buy mechanical again. I now have it on 3 bikes. I test road a bike last summer that had mechanical......and saying I hated it would be an understatement. Obviously personal taste can be different......such as Shimano vs Sram.

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [OtterJohn] [ In reply to ]

Mar 4, 20 17:56

Post #11 of 22 (2733 views)

Di2 for sure!!!!!!! Once you go Di2 you will never go back.

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [MKirk] [ In reply to ]

Mar 4, 20 18:05

Post #12 of 22 (2718 views)

MKirk wrote:

indianacyclist wrote:

I hate di2 on road bikes, but it’s fantastic on tri bikes for the exact reason you mentioned. Makes going uphill a lot more tolerable

....just curious why?

1st time I tried Di2 on a road bike (1st generation Di2)......lets just say I’d never buy mechanical again. I now have it on 3 bikes. I test road a bike last summer that had mechanical......and saying I hated it would be an understatement. Obviously personal taste can be different......such as Shimano vs Sram.

One should run Sram...

If one does not object to components of the drive train shearing off mid race

Had that happen to both a Red derailleur (snapped at the knuckle) and a Red shifter (shifter paddle sheared off). No weight saving is worth that trouble...

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [echappist] [ In reply to ]

Mar 4, 20 18:36

Post #13 of 22 (2675 views)

Di2 on TT bike are made for each other

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [Greyhound] [ In reply to ]

Mar 4, 20 19:19

Post #14 of 22 (2622 views)

Greyhound wrote:

Di2 for sure!!!!!!! Once you go Di2 you will never go back.

I've gone back....

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [Fishbum] [ In reply to ]

Mar 4, 20 19:26

Post #15 of 22 (2615 views)

Fishbum wrote:

Greyhound wrote:

Di2 for sure!!!!!!! Once you go Di2 you will never go back.

I've gone back....

What were the circumstances around your going back to mechanical, if you don't mind my asking?

- John
"Have courage, and be kind."

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [turningscrews] [ In reply to ]

Mar 4, 20 19:27

Post #16 of 22 (2611 views)

turningscrews wrote:

If she wants the bells and whistles, give her the bells and whistles. Then when you want the next big thing for your bike, you have some leverage. Happy wife, happy life.

Roger that! :)

- John
"Have courage, and be kind."

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [OtterJohn] [ In reply to ]

Mar 4, 20 19:28

Post #17 of 22 (2608 views)

Thanks for all the input, everyone! I was leaning toward the Di2, so thanks for all the positive feedback in that direction. I want her race experience to be the best it can be (she's new to the sport, only been at it since 2017).

- John
"Have courage, and be kind."

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [OtterJohn] [ In reply to ]

Mar 5, 20 2:51

Post #18 of 22 (2459 views)

OtterJohn wrote:

Fishbum wrote:

Greyhound wrote:

Di2 for sure!!!!!!! Once you go Di2 you will never go back.

I've gone back....

What were the circumstances around your going back to mechanical, if you don't mind my asking?

although I know it's super rare I did witness a couple of di2 failures that cost people their races. Obviously the same can happen with mechanical. But I felt like I could eliminate more of the uncertainty with a mechanical build and good pre-race maintenance. Also I like the simplicity of mechanical 1X.

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [OtterJohn] [ In reply to ]

Mar 5, 20 5:56

Post #19 of 22 (2370 views)

Di2 all day

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [MKirk] [ In reply to ]

Mar 5, 20 7:09

Post #20 of 22 (2311 views)

MKirk wrote:

indianacyclist wrote:

I hate di2 on road bikes, but it’s fantastic on tri bikes for the exact reason you mentioned. Makes going uphill a lot more tolerable

....just curious why?

1st time I tried Di2 on a road bike (1st generation Di2)......lets just say I’d never buy mechanical again. I now have it on 3 bikes. I test road a bike last summer that had mechanical......and saying I hated it would be an understatement. Obviously personal taste can be different......such as Shimano vs Sram.

I have two TT bikes (one mechanical and one SRAM Red) and two road bikes (1 mechanical and 1 Di2). I do not hate either; in fact, I like them both. If I were to limit my comparison to just road bikes, I would say that Di2 offers very little advantage over mechanical; and I will lean towards mechanical for my next road bike.

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [echappist] [ In reply to ]

Mar 5, 20 8:25

Post #21 of 22 (2241 views)

echappist wrote:

Had that happen to both a Red derailleur (snapped at the knuckle) and a Red shifter (shifter paddle sheared off). No weight saving is worth that trouble...

Your misfortunes are isolated and not common. I've been on Sram red mechanical for over 10 years without a single issue. My riding groupies are also on Sram red without any problems.

Re: Ultegra mechanical or Di2 on new bike [OtterJohn] [ In reply to ]

Mar 5, 20 9:13

Post #22 of 22 (2207 views)

Di2 for road bike is a margin upgrade (some may say it's not even that).

Di2 (with synchro shift) for TT bike is a game changer, and even more so for someone like your wife.

Our Partners

transition-DOT-area-AT-slowtwitch-DOT-com

Advertise with us

©1999-2024 Slowtwitch, Inc., and Slowtwitch.com
Reproduction of material from any Slowtwitch.com page
without written permission is strictly prohibited.