This weekend has seen some minor Bicycle maintenance and the proof positive that there is a tradeoff between Daily Usability and Performance.
Actually cycle components even at the high end are quite usable, unlike in other market segments.
For example, in past times where the household Silk Rugs were commonplace I was always rather bemused that the observed wisdom was that one should not actually stand on said Rug. Too delicate!
Perhaps you can see above, The internals of my rear Mavic Rsys SL R == broken
Future Choices
Marcus' daily cycle is now 1 year old
Agata's daily cycle is now > 5 years old
In view of the several thousand Km we cycle yearly we think that a second, modern, robust, state of the art, road bicycle each is not too much of an extravagance
So we are doing the research on the practicality of building a new bicycle or two ...
- At the top end the Groupset (ie. component selection choices) are really only Campagnolo Super Record / Shimano Dura Ace / Sram RED
- I'm still more impressed by the Shimano Engineering but recently the choice got more complicated.
So, we come to the point of trying to build a bicycle using Shimano:
- In 2011 there was the choice between Mechanical 7900 and Electronic Di2 7970 components
- Now in 2012 Shimano releases Mechanical 9000 and Electronic Di2 9070 components
- If we entertain the newest electronic 9070 for one moment ...
- They changed the cabling from 7970, and its now more compatible with the new Ultegra 6770 Di2
- Did I really need 10 gears on existing Dura Ace 7900? No! So 11 gears on the 9000/ 9070 is actually worse
- Best place for the battery is the seat, but the industry did not yet catch up
- There are some light Shimano clincher wheels but the rest of the market is not there yet
- Di2 frames seem to have amateurish wiring, the new wiring standard means potentially greater confusion. I've yet to see a single Di2 9070 component compatible frame.
Conclusion
Right now, Shimano 9000/9070 is orderable but not deliverable until at least Q3 2012.
AND
There seem to be no frames that I can find that will support the 9070 Di2 Electronic componentry
SO
Make do with the current technology and monitor progress especially of Di2 compatible, sub 1Kg frames.
Links
Dura Ace on the Shimano Website
Dura Ace 9070 Di2 Wire Routing
Dura Ace 9000 first ride
Weights in grams
DURA-ACE 9000 Crankset (FC-9000) : 683
Front & rear brake (BR-9000) : 297
Cassette sprockets (CS-9000) : 166
Chain (CN-9000) : 243
Rear derailleur (RD-9000) : 158
Front derailleur (FD-9000) : 66
Left & right dual control lever (ST-9000) : 365
Total weight : 1.978
Total weight with cables : 2.072
DURA-ACE 9070 Di2 Crankset (FC-9000) : 683
Front & rear brake (BR-9000) : 297
Cassette sprockets (CS-9000) : 166
Chain (CN-9000) : 243
Rear derailleur (RD-9070) : 217
Front derailleur (FD-9070) : 114
Left & right dual control lever (ST-9070) : 237
Total weight : 1.957
Total weight with wiring and internal battery (SM-BTR2) : 2.047
DURA-ACE WHEELSET WH-9000-C24-tubeless : F:630 R:824
WH-9000-C24-clincher : F:680 R:794
WH-9000-C35-tubular : F:647 R:715
WH-9000-C35-clincher : F:662 R:826
WH-9000-C50-tubular : F:641 R:808
WH-9000-C50-clincher : F:752 R:920
WH-9000-C75-tubular : F:678 R:867
HUBS Front hub (HB-9000) : 120
Rear freehub (FH-9000) : 246
