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An indexed shifter can also perform perfect shifts for thousands of times, and after that time you don't need to change out a battery you just need to maybe tur

by mcntsh 2y ago

An indexed shifter can also perform perfect shifts for thousands of times, and after that time you don't need to change out a battery you just need to maybe turn the barrel adjuster a few mm. The chainring thing is cool but front-gearing is also sort-of on the way out in favor of 1x groupsets. One of the greatest things about bikes, IMO, is how elegantly simple they are and how that translates into reliability and ease of maintenance. The push to using electrical components feels like a step in the wrong direction in this regard.

analog31 2y ago
Note that the VanMoof was an e-bike with a lot of built-in features, so it wasn't intended to attract a minimalist market in the first place. The point is, it's an everything bike, in a stylish package.
ndsipa_pomu 2y ago
I've got nothing against non-electronic index-shifters, but they do require more adjustment than Di2 systems (not a big deal - usually just use the barrel adjuster). There's also the need to replace the inner cable which most people don't bother doing (I had one snap in the brifter head which seemed to be a fault with that particular brifter model). You can take my double-chainring when you can pry it out of my cold dead hands. I do agree about the simplicity and maintenance benefits of manual shifters (I do most of my own bike maintenance, so have worked on both systems) and if I were planning a cross-continent bike ride, I think mechanical shifters would be beneficial as it may not be easy to source electronic shifting components (e.g. hitting a rear derailleur on a rock and requiring a replacement). However, the sheer pleasure of using electronic shifting (a slight press and then a satisfying click-whirr to change gear) means that most people who have experienced it are unlikely to go back to mechanical. By the way, you usually just charge up the Di2 system rather than replacing the battery. Battery replacement is only for when something has gone wrong or you require features not supported on the older versions (e.g. synchro-shifting wasn't supported on the older external battery compared to the seat-post battery versions).

by mcntsh 2y ago

analog31 2y ago

Note that the VanMoof was an e-bike with a lot of built-in features, so it wasn't intended to attract a minimalist market in the first place. The point is, it's an everything bike, in a stylish package.

ndsipa_pomu 2y ago

I've got nothing against non-electronic index-shifters, but they do require more adjustment than Di2 systems (not a big deal - usually just use the barrel adjuster). There's also the need to replace the inner cable which most people don't bother doing (I had one snap in the brifter head which seemed to be a fault with that particular brifter model). You can take my double-chainring when you can pry it out of my cold dead hands. I do agree about the simplicity and maintenance benefits of manual shifters (I do most of my own bike maintenance, so have worked on both systems) and if I were planning a cross-continent bike ride, I think mechanical shifters would be beneficial as it may not be easy to source electronic shifting components (e.g. hitting a rear derailleur on a rock and requiring a replacement). However, the sheer pleasure of using electronic shifting (a slight press and then a satisfying click-whirr to change gear) means that most people who have experienced it are unlikely to go back to mechanical. By the way, you usually just charge up the Di2 system rather than replacing the battery. Battery replacement is only for when something has gone wrong or you require features not supported on the older versions (e.g. synchro-shifting wasn't supported on the older external battery compared to the seat-post battery versions).