DI2 Ultegra vs Dura Ace Mechanical?
Looking for opinions....looking at gearing set up....if two options only, would you choose DI2 Ultegra vs Dura Ace Mechanical....pros/cons of both? Personally have never used DI2 so in some respects...don't know what I am missing.
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On road bike...it's cool (I have it) but performance wise it's no better than a well tuned mechanical setup. Difference is you pay more for DI2, maintenance is less, and you need to stay on top of the battery to make sure it's charged (lasts 4-6 months per charge.
Di2, and the ability to shift from the brake hoods are a game changer on a tri bike and well worth the expense.
x4, I would add that, for those of us who are becoming gradiant challenged, Shimano now makes a mid-sized rear Di2 derailleur which allows for 11-32 rear cassette. Couple with a compact front, or even a 52/34, there's nothing you can't handle.
You are correct that bullhorn shifters are the #1 advantage of DI2 on a tri bike, but not compatible with hydraulic brakes without a hack. See attached picture of the end product...
Dawn - I humbly recommend you look at the SRAM eTap as an electronic shifting solution, if at all possible.
yes consider etap. lot easier setup.
currently limited to 28 cog in the rear though. do you need more than 34 in front and 28 in rear ? etap might unofficially be able to handle 32 but I do not know that.
etap is worth a look. DC Rainmaker just released a review on it yesterday. Pros - easier setup, blips should mitigate the need to hack on hydraulic brakes, may be a bit cheaper (I was surprised by this but DCR said so!). Cons - for tri setup the junction box is bulky so finding an elegant mounting solution will be challenging, and as others state above it may not be compatible with some larger cassettes (>28 tooth)
e Tap is WIRELESS. That will pressure Shimano to release a wireless version soon, devaluing wired configurations. Further, e Tap has 2 batteries built into the FD and RD shifters. Say the RD battery goes out - just switch the batteries and set the FD in whichever cog you want.