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No. Honestly, I don't mean to be negative, but this article is grossly misrepresenting the actual situation. The actual problems the author of the article enc

No. Honestly, I don't mean to be negative, but this article is grossly misrepresenting the actual situation. The actual problems the author of the article encountered/mentioned were that: 1) He was unfamiliar with how to use/maintain an electronic drivetrain, because he didn't have experience with one. 2) He sometimes doesn't have the right tool for the job. The truth is that bicycles are _amazingly_ user reparable. Even the latest and greatest that use electronic shifting. And in comparison to other complex consumer goods, very accessible in terms of manufacturer support, and the information available to end users. I've actually had an easier time understanding, calibrating and maintaining my electronic drivetrain (SRAM GX AXS, not the same one the op was having issues with) than I ever did with a traditional drivetrain. But probably because I'm more comfortable with electronics than mechanical things. The one exception to the "totally user maintainable" rule are some components of electric bicycles, which (at least as far as batteries and some motorized components go) can be restricted by manufacturers as to what the end user can do. Don't get me wrong. There are still plenty of things that I trust my bike mechanic to do that I won't do myself, but only because I don't have the time or focus to learn how to do them properly. Not because modern bicycles are somehow inaccessible.

cheeze 4y ago
Alternate title: "Fred wants to swap Di2 onto his non Di2 bike" Totally agreed though. I'm a cyclist and DIY is pretty simple, even on Di2. It's just that the author of this thread got in way over their head and wanted to do something that isn't straightforward... I wouldn't even call it maintenance. This is like the euqivalent of wondering why you can't swap your FWD Civic to AWD without a mechanic's help. This Di2 Dura Ace drivetrain sells for what, $4,000? And he's putting it on his entry-level gravel bike. He's confused about fully internal routing maintenace costing more? It's way harder to do internal routing but gives aero gains and looks nice. It's very much a "top tier bike" kinda thing. Like being surprised that your Ferrari costs more to do an oil change. It scares me that OP is a former bike shop mechanic and doesn't get this. It's not that bikes are getting too hard to work on, it's that the $12,000 bike he's trying to part out to add to his entry-level 'prosumer' gravel bike just doesn't make any sense. If you want a top tier bike that's easy to work on, Specialized Aethos is great.
- kevin_thibedeau 4y ago
  I converted a Di2 frame to cable shifting. It took some time to source the proprietary cable stops and BB cable guide. The guide proved to be useless as it didn't prevent contact with the frame so I had to resort to 3D printing something more functional. The average person won't be able to deal with all the subtle incompatibilities modern bikes have.
leethargo 4y ago
What about hydraulic brakes, though? These require specialized tools to maintain, which are so expensive that no amateur will afford them (for the rare occasions). I think it's the only component that I wouldn't know how to adjust/fix on my new bicycle, where previously I feel I could have handled everything (but it was a simply fixed gear bicycle).
- leethargo 4y ago
  Reading some other comments, I get the feeling that adjusting hydraulic brakes may not actually be tricky, so it's probably just the novelty for me.
  - akvadrako 4y ago
    I don't think it's that hard. I have Magura HS22 hydraulic brakes and installed them myself with regular tools. I haven't had to refill the fluid yet but the instructions seems pretty straightforward: https://www.magura.com/media/1729/hs_2016_en_web_03.pdf https://www.magura.com/media/1729/hs_2016_en_web_03.pdf
  - Gualdrapo 4y ago
    I'd concede that the bleed kit and mineral oil aren't things you can have around, though. I had to bleed the rear brake of my bike because when I was changing the pads discovered one was much worn that the other, and in the process a piston went out and the liquid leaked. Once I could got the necessary stuff it was a fairly easy process.
- ehnto 4y ago
  I think you're overstating it as you're not sure what it takes to maintain them, but they're definitely self-serviceable and affordably as well, it should all be in the service manual you got with your bike. I would personally say that a fluid bleeder and seal picks/hooks are pretty universal tools, handy to have around. Hydraulics have been around for decades too, it's a very ubiquitous technology. Even for crimping lines you can get pretty affordable tools, but I will concede that crimping new hydraulic lines is probably not that common of a task around the house.

cheeze 4y ago

Alternate title: "Fred wants to swap Di2 onto his non Di2 bike" Totally agreed though. I'm a cyclist and DIY is pretty simple, even on Di2. It's just that the author of this thread got in way over their head and wanted to do something that isn't straightforward... I wouldn't even call it maintenance. This is like the euqivalent of wondering why you can't swap your FWD Civic to AWD without a mechanic's help. This Di2 Dura Ace drivetrain sells for what, $4,000? And he's putting it on his entry-level gravel bike. He's confused about fully internal routing maintenace costing more? It's way harder to do internal routing but gives aero gains and looks nice. It's very much a "top tier bike" kinda thing. Like being surprised that your Ferrari costs more to do an oil change. It scares me that OP is a former bike shop mechanic and doesn't get this. It's not that bikes are getting too hard to work on, it's that the $12,000 bike he's trying to part out to add to his entry-level 'prosumer' gravel bike just doesn't make any sense. If you want a top tier bike that's easy to work on, Specialized Aethos is great.

kevin_thibedeau 4y ago
I converted a Di2 frame to cable shifting. It took some time to source the proprietary cable stops and BB cable guide. The guide proved to be useless as it didn't prevent contact with the frame so I had to resort to 3D printing something more functional. The average person won't be able to deal with all the subtle incompatibilities modern bikes have.

leethargo 4y ago

What about hydraulic brakes, though? These require specialized tools to maintain, which are so expensive that no amateur will afford them (for the rare occasions). I think it's the only component that I wouldn't know how to adjust/fix on my new bicycle, where previously I feel I could have handled everything (but it was a simply fixed gear bicycle).

leethargo 4y ago
Reading some other comments, I get the feeling that adjusting hydraulic brakes may not actually be tricky, so it's probably just the novelty for me.
- akvadrako 4y ago
  I don't think it's that hard. I have Magura HS22 hydraulic brakes and installed them myself with regular tools. I haven't had to refill the fluid yet but the instructions seems pretty straightforward: https://www.magura.com/media/1729/hs_2016_en_web_03.pdf https://www.magura.com/media/1729/hs_2016_en_web_03.pdf
- Gualdrapo 4y ago
  I'd concede that the bleed kit and mineral oil aren't things you can have around, though. I had to bleed the rear brake of my bike because when I was changing the pads discovered one was much worn that the other, and in the process a piston went out and the liquid leaked. Once I could got the necessary stuff it was a fairly easy process.
ehnto 4y ago
I think you're overstating it as you're not sure what it takes to maintain them, but they're definitely self-serviceable and affordably as well, it should all be in the service manual you got with your bike. I would personally say that a fluid bleeder and seal picks/hooks are pretty universal tools, handy to have around. Hydraulics have been around for decades too, it's a very ubiquitous technology. Even for crimping lines you can get pretty affordable tools, but I will concede that crimping new hydraulic lines is probably not that common of a task around the house.