on a hill climb e shift matters more. you can shift on aero bars or base bars. mech was only on aero bars, and not many people ride up steep hill in aero
Help me out, is this a TT/tri frame set up with drop bars, or an aero road frame, or…?
Thats my photo : That was a great trip with Tim
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racer directors, preferably USAT can get rid of AG (really should be CAT bike like system), and make aero bars bike division, and non aero bar. And as more of a penalty, aero bar bike division starts last. It would be interesting to know how other countries do this. As I mentioned in mexican races before, 1’ penalty for aero bar bike usage. If I remember AG was every 10 years
The frame is a Felt DA from a few years back. So that would make it a tri bike set up with drop bars.
Yeah, but it has literally zero effect on your time and results. I’ve done it both ways. Shifting from the basebar is convenient but that’s it.
Doesn’t help that after 20 years of bar end mechanical I rarely remember I have the base bar shifters….
I never found the aero bar shifters tricky when climbing, it was when it was windy or in traffic that I wanted to shift from base bar, and that’s where I’m forgetting. Also I’ve found electronic shifting way more hassle than mechanical. I admit, way less experience of electronic, but as someone that does all my own spannering then I never had an issue with mechanical but a year later struggling to get electronic to do what I want.
Hydraulic disk brakes on the other hand I’d be very loathed to go away from on any bike that’s used off the trainer.
Electronic shifting has been a boon ever since I upgraded my bikes from archaic cables. On older bikes that don’t have completely hidden cables, electronic shifting can help a little in the aero department if that’s a priority. The biggest improvement I’ve seen, however, is with setup and maintenance. It’s so easy to install. With cables, there’s more involved to make everything function 100% during installation. Also, cables constantly stretch, especially in high-latitude climates where temperatures see a wide range from season to season. The consequent maintenance in keeping everything working optimally was annoying. Lastly, having the option to place shifters virtually anywhere and as many as a system permits has been a game-changer.
The main thing to look out for with electronic shifting is battery charge. I have to carry spare batteries in case I need them. That’s the only downside I’ve experienced after half a decade, and would never go back to mechanical shifting. The difference has been night and day.
I’d agree that the lack to service cables, particularly with super-complex integrated headsets is amazing for e-shifting.
As to the crispness, speed, and tactile feedback, I’d say they’re no better than mechanical.
But yes, once you get electronic shifting, you’re probably never going to go back.
I don’t doubt that the superiority of the new bikes. But I look at bikes the same way that I look at new vehicles. They are marvels of modern technology but I’m not ready to embrace that technology just yet.
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Do don’t it - it’s a one way street! But seriously, the disc brakes and the low psi are awesome and you’ll never go back to your old skinny tired high psi bike ever again. It’s like shock absorbers for the worst rattle, it’s that much of a difference.
I keep reading this but really how big are you guys talking? I have run a 28c on both my Shiv and my Time Machine and I’m pretty sure I could safely fit a 30c on both frames, maybe even 32 although that may be pushing the envelop on the Shiv. Given we’re talking about tri bikes, I can’t really imagine going much bigger than a 30c
28c is fine. Those wouldn’t fit on my old cervelo.
My heds are 28c at 60 psi
I know Canada did it for all racers under 19 years old -
“Beginning with the 2025 season,
Cycling Canada has banned specialized Time Trial (TT) bikes, extension bars, and disc wheels for U17 and Junior riders at the Canadian Road National Championships. Riders must use a standard road bike frame with standard drop bars for all events to promote safety and fairness.
Key rules for Junior (U19) and U17 riders:
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No Aerobars: Clip-on or integrated extension bars are not permitted.
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Equipment Restriction: Only one bike frame (standard road bike) is allowed for all, or most, road events.
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Wheels: Disc wheels are banned.
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Goal: These rules are designed to reduce costs, increase participation, and ensure a level playing field.”
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Got to be honest here. If organizations tried something like that for age groupers, I wouldn’t participate. I still have a couple road bikes that I haven’t ridden in two or three years now. I just don’t even like riding them anymore. And I’m very, very far from being competitive, even in the age group bracket.
Until your battery goes dead mid-race!
Only happens to the most non prepared.
Odds are e higher you’ll show up with no water bottles for a 70.3 than doing that.
Hah I’m like the living embodiment of morale and it’s never happened to me!
You can though get weird di2 glitches after unpacking your bike from a box for shipping.
So sort of the same.
This.
Had someone die half way round a ride in the early days, don’t know if it was SRAM or DI2. But then seen several times people get to a race having charged DI2 before travel.
And that’s why I always take my powerbank and Di2 cable into transition (if racing or marshalling) as if something falls on top (even the duvet they wrap it in) the battery can flatten trying to push itself outwards or trying to get into crash protection position.