:Electronic Shifting anyone?

November 10th, 2011 | No Comments » |

No need to re-popst about Campy’s release of their electronic Record and Super Record shifting, it’s all over the shop already.

This is a comment I posted on one of the blogs highlighting it:

“Mavic Zap anyone?

Seriously though, seeing this as I eat my post ride breakfast seems quite apt. Riding this morning I was actually thinking just how well my 10spd Shimano shifters work. Effortless, responsive and all achieved with a simple cable.

At Sea Otter we saw the hydraulic shifting, then Shimano’s electric Dura Ace and now Campy’s attempt. I don’t poo poo on innovation, far from it. I was on board with suspension on MTB’s in the early 90′s and then disc brakes back in the late 90′s, all despite the ney sayers saying that these things were fads. Same with carbon. But I simply can not get my head around wanting to replace the mechanical simplicity, efficiency and ‘lightness’ of a cable to actuate derailleurs with electronics, batteries and ‘brains’. C-dale tried it with their fork and that died in the arse despite working well.

Sure, this might all be a technological step forward and bravo for companies finally achieving what Mavic etc. tried to do. My question is, is this really a step forward for riders, or just a new way to get people to spend more money in a market that’s flat lined?

For the vast majority of riders, the minute benefit that electronic shifting will provide will be far outweighed by the added complexity, high maintenance and replacement costs, ultimately making this sort of gear for those mid life crisis riders who have very fat wallets to spend on all the latest stuff.

Sorry for the rant.

Cheers,

g”

 

Tags:campy,electronic,shifters

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