Di2

Bro just spent a fortune on Giant Rabo team bike with Di2... obscene looking (and costing fwiw).

Poking around I found some "steals" to be had if you're down with Wilier:
IZOARD https://www.bikebuster.com/details/120557.html?vat=0¤cy=usd
CENTO https://www.bikebuster.com/details/120391.html?vat=0¤cy=usd

My bike has many, many miles left in it, but if the timing was right and if I was fitness worthy, I'd be definitely tempted...

love those giants, rabo or just the plain white one. compact frame and all the squared-off tubing lends a certain sawn-off shotgun vibe to it.

lol so guess what i put on lay-by yesterday

Super Record EPS?

haw, i work at a not-for-profit. i'd have to embezzle funds from there to afford EPS and probably still not afford to eat!!

I remain a mechanical stan because surely I will come down one day and the bike won't be charged; but yesterday I was twiddling the barrel adjuster for a lot of my ride and starting to wonder.

i figure i'm already recharging the front light and the garmin on the reg, what's another plug?

it was the bike as a whole that i was impressed with rather than just Di2 - it's a TCR advanced 0 - but they had it on special at the shop for cheaper than the regular ultegra model, so i just decided "why not??". that front derailleur shifting really is impressive though i must say.

my review of ultegra Di2, by haitch, aged 5

aesthetically the RD in particular is bulky. (this is due to the UDi2 motors being off-the-peg items; DA uses bespoke shimano ones, hence the price.) but the finish is good, nice dark grey with glossy sections here and there.

hood shape is slimmer than current regular ultegra, like older shimano shape without the tall extension above the lever. very comfortable (i have large hands). shift paddles have short throw and obvious audible click when engaged - no real tactile feedback though which some (campa-philes esp) will hate. personally i like the light action and it eliminates my least-liked quirk of ultegra 6700, the long lever throws when shifting.

the shifting absolutely lives up to the hype. small to BIG ring, full power, omg. self-trimming too, never any chain rub, just amazing.

i find the 'bzzt' of the FD motor when shifting (or when it self-trims) pretty hilaire - hasn't got old yet.

weight weenies probably won't touch it as it's the heaviest group at the force-ultegra-chorus level. still though, my bike's 16.5 pounds so it's hardly a massive imposition. i guess it is if you're racing at a high level.

it all came pre-installed on the new bike but the simplified wiring system seems quite good, less complexity, no need to shrink-wrap the connections for water-proofing etc.

i had to adjust it a bit after i took the pie plate off, was dead easy. five minures on the work stand with an allen key and micro-adhusting in 'trim mode' and all was running smooth again.

i find it very confidence-inspiring how dead-on the shifts are all the time, the mechanical ultegra wasn't shabby either bur it really is a big leap ahead. it just works, you know? and i can see that if you do hilly races, being able to shift at full gas could be a game-changer. can i recommend it, that's another question. some will have ideological problems with motorisation, batteries, 'no soul' etc - they probably will never want a bar of it. anyone wanting a tangible performance boost is prob better off with a set of carbon tubulars. i myself didn't set out to buy it but i am very happy with it... but i got a great deal on it, too. i'd definitely suggest a test ride to see if it's up your alley, at any rate.