Components Future Proofing
10-28-21, 12:06 PM
#76
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Just based on what I see out on the road I'd be surprised if there was less than 3 Di2 groupsets sold per 1 mechanical in recent months/years. But most of the time I have enough opportunity to hee and haw and others' bikes is in fast group rides and races, and I'd imagine electronic shifting is going to be a little over-represented with those crowds vs. the general populace. I've been on rides where I had the only bike still moving derailleurs with cables out of two or three dozen other riders, my fingers are crossed that Shimano still does continue producing higher-tier mechanical shifters so I can continue to be that guy. I understand if they decide not to though, the market for those parts just doesn't seem to hold a candle to electronic shifters.
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
10-28-21, 01:04 PM
#77
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That long term is what has me crossing my fingers. With SRAM unveiling Rival AXS this year I could very well see Shimano following suit with 105 Di2, and both manufacturers dropping the groups' mechanical counterparts by the end of the decade. It's almost scary to think what cycling components will look like that far down the road, and it's not even that far off!
10-28-21, 01:48 PM
#78
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I keep thinking that an electronic "friction" shifter would be a nice way to keep the derailleurs agnostic as to the number of gears while allowing lighter shifting effort, but I doubt it would ever happen. Too retro for the techie folks, and too techie for the retro-grouches. 
