bblair

Stacking all these tech changes on top of each other has created a situation in the last 4-5 years where upgrading just isn't possible - it's new bike time. That's what's made a lot of this change untenable for many.

Well, we are getting a little off topic, but 10,000% agree with you. I don't buy new bikes too often, so when I paid a lot of money 7 years ago for a new Titanium beauty, it was with the expectation that it would last me a very long time, if not forever.

But crap, my bike is obsolete. I need new shifters and those are backordered because Ultegra mechanical has gone away. I need new wheels and those are in short supply. Sucks.

SoSmellyAir

Ultegra mechanical has gone away? What are these:

Shimano Ultegra R8000 Road Bike Gear Levers - 11 Speed | Merlin Cycles

I still ride my rim brake bike with CF wheels. They squeal when I brake hard, mais c'est la vie.

Koyote

Huh? You can get them on Amazon.

Maybe you only need one of them?

And you can't find wheels? I mean, there are still a few supply chain issues, but you can buy wheels.

Russ Roth

Huh?
My MTB was bought in 2017, it will finally need pads and rotors soon but hasn't been bled once. Its been ridden enough to wear out an entire drivetrain in that time and the rear wheel to need a rebuild due to spoke fatigue but the brakes are still going strong. Built my cross bike in 2020 and have had no trouble with them despite the levels of mud and crap they've been ridden through, and the my oldest's 2018 mtb is now under the youngest and the brakes are showing no sign of needing adjustment. While my road bike is rim brake and is light I do see my next road bike being disc, I like the lack of ever needing to fiddle with them, they don't go out of adjustment and there's no cables/housing to contaminate in the winter. Stopping is very consistent.

Really is use dependent, throughout my many college years I usually wore the rear out first but the front would be similar enough that they went in pairs. Commuting it was rare I ever needed the front except for responding to idiots, light changes, or animals. Mostly just slowing down which the back is fine for. The commuter was always a road bike since I'd get my miles in taking the long way home with lots of steep hills and higher speeds and the front brake mattered more balancing the wear. Someone with a dedicated bike might do one or the other.

Seattle Forrest

The back is fine for regular slowing especially just riding around. What's important is that you use the front brake well in a panic stop. Seems like always mostly using the front brake to stop is probably good for muscle memory.

bblair

Perhaps I was mistaken, but I remember reading that Shimano stopped offering Ultegra groupsets in mechanical configuration. But I guess they'll make parts for a while. I hope.

As to wheels, yes, they are out there. But many of the places I have looked have limited, or zero rim brake options. Industry Nine for example. They told me in a personal email. Chris King, as I understand. Others are out there, sure, but fewer and fewer. It's not like I am buy parts for a Model-T or anything.

Psimet2001 

There's ton's of Model-T parts available. Same with the Model A....ask me how I know.


Latest generation DA and Ultegra do not have mechanical options. They are still producing previous generation in mechanical for the time being. These will be phased out. You will soon no longer be able to get mechanical replacements that are "Ultegra" or "Dura-Ace". As for how long that will take? Quite a few of the shop owners in the owners forums I am in have been asking just that as they are hesitant to buy OEM bikes with Mechanical Ultegra on them for fear of customers seeing them as "obsolete" and wanting a discount just as soon as Shimano officially announces end of product life for them.

seypat

Microshift has something that will work.

Koyote

I haven’t looked at their website, but check DT Swiss to see if they make non-disc hubs. Their stuff is terrific.

Seattle Forrest

​​​​​​Cosigned.

bblair

Still window shopping.

The DT Swiss website lists rim brake style hubs, but you have to go through a dealer. And none of the places I looked has them listed. The DT 240 hubs look great and I might talk to my LBS and sourcing those.

My latest: White Industries T11 hubs. For purchase on their site. And in colors!

cxwrench

Any bike shop with a QBP account (which is nearly every shop in the country) can order any DT hub you want as long as they're in stock. Don't worry if your shop doesn't show them in stock at the shop. Most shops won't stock them because there are so many options.

SoSmellyAir

So this is how Psimet learned to lace bike wheels?

Psimet2001 

Alas - they're welded.