DI2 conversion

Scott Alexander

I'm about 90% going to pull the trigger and convert my road bike (Specialized S-Works SL3 Tarmac mechanical 10-spd) to DI2 11-spd. I REALLY want it!

If I had to go with one 11-spd cassette as a default/keep-on-there-almost-all-the-time, what would you suggest? I've got a compact 50/34 Quarq crank. I live in relatively flat North TX, but do as much climbing as I can, here in TX and annually in Spain!

What say you?

robin sarner

wait for sram wireless !

Tom Glynn

I've gone to Di2 shifters on my tri bike and to me it is a huge step forward. I have 2 sets of shifters, one on the aero bars and one set on the handle bars. Not having to move to switch gears in aero is awesome. I've thought about putting them on the road bike, but to me that's a nice to have, not a game changer like the tri bike setup.

Al Truscott

+1 on what Tom said.

As to the original question, do you mean 50/34 compact? With my compactish crank, I have the 11-32 cassette with my Di2, which does call for the slightly longer RD, but I see no reason to not use it. Being able to spin up 8% grades is a real plus in my book.

As to waiting, "a bird in the hand..." Shimano's electronic shifting, from what I've seen, simply WORKS. Rain, rotten roads, whatever, it does what it's meant to do without breaking down, in my case, over 5,000 miles. SRAM will be an unknown in terms of reliability for at least a year after introduction.

MattAaronson

I use an 11-25 for general training. For a flat race I use an 11-23. Honestly with a compact 34t up front you won't need anything more than 25t unless you're getting really mountainous (like Al in Aspen!!).

Rich Stanbaugh

I have S-Works Shiv with Dura Ace DI2 and 50/34 - switch my cassettes around. I just bought an S-Works Tarmac Disc with Dura Ace DI2 and was struggling with the same questions about the setup. It comes with a mid-compact 52/36. In the end, I went with the 50/34 to make the setup identical to the Shiv. Having ridden it for about a month - I think I would have been better to stick with the 52/36. Here is why:

1. I could have swapped the 52/36 chain rings with the Shiv for more options
2. The Tarmac is so light that it doesn't need the climbing gears tht I need on the Shiv. I'd rather have the fast gears.

The 11-28 cassett that e comes with the the DI2 as the default option will be a pretty good option With the 50/34. You should check, but I'm not certain that you can put a cassette with a gear bigger than 28t on the DI2.

Dino Sarti

Depends on how sensitive you are to gaps in your cadence, Scott. They personally don't bother me, so I rock a 11/28 on the back. Mo gears = Mo Better in book. Plus, I climb a lot. Every ride ends with 400 ft of gain just getting to my driveway.

If you are not worried about gaps, relish all the choices....

Shaughn Simmons

For a strong biker, 11-28 should be the ticket......lucky you.