Video: The Shimano Di2 electric bike shifter for the paradoxically lazy

If the idea of wrist-twist is too taxing, perhaps an electronic shifter is the best option to get your meat-bag mobile. With the press of a button, the Shimano Di2 derailleur on this $10,000 Merida Scultura 909 road-racer automatically eases you into that next gear. Now shipping on select bicycles, the Di2 system features a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery (lasting 1,000 kilometers or 621 miles) powering an integrated CPU that monitors and adjusts the front and rear derailleurs to keep them perfectly trimmed. The system allows you to shift 30% faster (as fast as you can move your finger) than with mechanical derailleurs -- even under load while cycling out of the saddle. Great for pros (we guess). For everyone else there's Vespa. Check the action after the break.

[Via Engadget Chinese]

[ran Posted Mar 17th 2009 1:48PM]

Now we just need millisecond shift times.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2009 2:23PM]

People seem to be missing a few key points:
1) The people who will REALLY benefit from this system are not the riders but rather the mechanics. A typical pro team mechanic has to look after well over 60 bikes. That's a lot of cables to keep properly adjusted!
2) Eliminating the derailleur cable also means eliminating a major source of friction in the drivetrain. This gets to be more and more important as you start to squeeze more cogs in back.
3) The electronic system weighs more but this is a non-issue in pro racing. Weight can be saved in other areas such as the frame. Anyone who wants to argue this clearly isn't familiar with UCI rule 1.3.019! Please familiarize yourself with this rule before posting any stupid "weight matters" arguments. If you think weight matters that much outside of pro racing you're delusional and probably need to train more.
4) In case anyone is wondering why they didn't go wireless the reason is simple: a wireless system would require twice as many batteries - you'd need a battery at each derailleur as well as each shifter. More batteries means more weight and less reliability.

I took a quick spin on the system and it is amazingly fast and crisp but in reality it's not that great an improvement over Red, Record or regular DuraAce. Will be interesting to see how it compares to Campagnolo's electronic system which has been in development for over a decade now. Also interesting to see how it compares to FSA's derailleurs/shifters which will soon start road testing.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2009 2:25PM]

How about a triple chainring front that doesn't suck?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2009 4:19PM]

Anyone else remember when pneumatic shifting was going to be the next big thing in DH? Airlines was it? A white air canister in your bottle cage. I don't think that ever made it off a few pro bikes.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 23rd 2009 12:33PM]

For those few of us with Rans Screamers -- a recumbent tandem about 8' long -- or similar beasts, the benefits of eliminating its ridiculously lengthy cables would be great. If one could actually believe the selected gear was engaged -- something you can't check on the Screamer while riding -- that would be an added benefit! The cost, of course, is an issue.

I'd second the earlier post pleading for a front chain-ring that doesn't suck: the experience is all the more thrilling on a 'bent bike with the turning radius of a bus! :)

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 27th 2009 1:53AM]

This is what we need now:-) E bikes that react to speed within miliseconds.
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