Shimano Shuns Cables for Full Electronic Shifting

Japanese parts manufacturer Shimano is launching an electronic shifting system for high-end road bikes that it claims will vastly improve performance and reduce maintenance. By replacing the conventional levers that pull wound-steel cables through protective housings with solid-state switches and rubber-coated wires, there’s no chance for road gunk to clog things up and interfere with shifting, or, for that matter, your post-ride beer.

The principle of an electronically controlled drive train is to execute perfect shifts every time, thus “reducing mental overhead,” in the words of Shimano marketing manager Devin Walton. This is a resource cyclists find in short supply during epic rides.

Thursday’s announcement that the system, called Di2, will hit shops in January 2009 settles a question first raised in 2005 when prototypes began cropping up on the bikes of select Shimano-sponsored racers in the pro peloton. The system’s development has been photographed, chronicled and Angsted over ever since.

When it makes the pages of Wired, you know it’s going to be huge amongst all the techies on bikes in Silicon Valley … pretty much guaranteeing that at least from a sales perspective, the new group is going to be a success.

Is this the “more cowbell” of the cycling world?

VeloNews | Shimano’s electronic Dura-Ace

Shimano has formally announced plans to release Dura-Ace Di2, a new electronic shifting option for the all-new 7900 series Dura-Ace, in January.

Composed of dual control shift/brake levers, front derailleur, rear derailleur, a wiring harness and battery pack, the new Dura-Ace Di2 7970 components integrate with components from the upcoming 7900 series Dura-Ace group, while adding only 68 grams.

Electrically actuated shifting eliminates cable friction and contamination. The shifters are now merely switches, which also allows for creative placement of optional remote shifters while reducing the weight and profile of the main shifting units. For example, a rider could place remote switches out on the ends of aero bars as well as on the top of drop bars near the stem.

Derailleur movements are computer-controlled and servo motors in both front and rear derailleur create synchronized shifts.

You know, because manual shifting is so difficult.

When Mavic tried this 10 years ago, they had no end of problems with their Zap and Mektronic systems. Knowing their thoroughness of design, I’m sure that Shimano has worked out all of those kinks, but I still just don’t see the point.

Although, I have to admit, with the exception of the battery pack, the stuff sure does LOOK sexy.

But I’ll stick with Campagnolo, unless someone feels like putting a full SRAM Red kit (along with some Reynolds carbon wheels) into my hot little hands.