So, now that 11 speed cassettes are pretty much taking over the world, making any drivetrain upgrade done at least a year from now pretty much impossible on my Fulcrum Racing Zeros (with the Shimano 9/10 freehub). So then the question becomes, does it become time to upgrade the whole 2006 Cannondale Slice (aluminum framed, yes). Anyway, I am always looking for as wide a gear ratio as possible, currently I actually am running a Rotor RS4X (remember those?) with a 55/39 chainring combo (trust me, the 55-12 combo is more relaxing than you think if you’ve got the quads for it on long flats and downhills). Anyway, I’d like to keep the RS4X on the bike, as I saw a nearly 1 mph increase on my Olympic races (1+ on sprints) when I switched to them from the Ultegra 6600’s and my legs the same on the run. I’m wonder if the crankset will still work with the new 11 speed setups or if I’ll have to consider staying in a 10. I’m looking at the SRAM Force 22 Yaw front derailleur and the Force 22 WiFli rear derailleur, with the soon to arrive R2C shifters. On the Shimano side it would be the similar set up but who knows what I’d use for shifting, since they only have the old style ones. Do I go to Di2 but drop to an 11-28 cassette from 11-32 and lose the extra hill climbing gears (easily the worst part of my bike). Brake wise, I’m thinking of either Magura RT 6, or SRAM hydraulics if they make a TT lever, the Tri-Rig Omega, or the new Ultegra 6810 brakes. I’d definitely look at disc brakes if there were easy ways of retrofitting or more wheels and new bikes set up for them. I’m not really looking at the Campy stuff, but I suppose I could consider them too…
So, they do make an 11spd mech TT shifter for Shimano. BUT you are talking about an 8yr old bike, so leave it alone and just keep on rocking what you’ve got. Not to mention on a tri bike the difference in shift quality is non-existent so you are really just talking about spending money for the sake of spending money.
Well, I’m currently riding on the Rotor RS4X 55-39 Crankset with Ultegra 6600 front and rear derailleurs and a 12-27 Ultegra cassette with Ultegra 6600 brakes. I say 6600, but they may even be 6500’s, I can’t even remember what each of them looked like. Needless to say the derailleurs and brakes are getting tired, so they need replacement. So I figured if I’m going to replace them, do it right. That’s why I’m definitely looking at a WiFli type cassette (or Shimano equivalent) and R2C shifting as well as strong brakes. I also know cranksets aren’t really supposed to be set up with a 55/39, it’s usually 55/42 or 53/39, which is why I need a really strong setup on the FD, the SRAM yaw, or Di2 would definitely solve that. By the way, that 8 yr old bike has a n awesome flat black paint job with red and white custom decals and pinstriping designed by yours truly (I have actually gotten requests from other triathletes, but none of them like the costs involved - I use automotive grade painting after hand sanding on carbon, as opposed to sandblasting for aluminum). Incidentally, I’m also looking at upgrading my cockpit too, probably looking at PD’s ProSvet or Ozero with T1+ or T3+ extensions, possibly with TriRig’s stem.
Needless to say the derailleurs and brakes are getting tired, so they need replacement.
Does “tired” mean worn out, or just that you’re tired of them and want something new?
Worn out, even after a shop tuning, the shifts just aren’t that crisp and accurate anymore, and the cables are in good shape. He felt it was the internals on the derailleurs. 6500’s aren’t exactly new, they’ve got to be easily 10 years old with several thousand miles on them.