Electronic gear shifters operate via a battery, motor and derailleurs, switching the chain from gear to gear with minimal effort. They eliminate the necessity for Bowden cables; associated with manual gear change, which can easily become worn or stretched. On face value, allowing an automatic mechanism to take on some of the riders work seems a faultless design, but utilising battery powered aid does lead to some fairly significant downfalls.
On the other hand, they do have many attributes that may be worth bearing in mind. Electronic gear shifters provide an effortless and accurate gear shift, ridding the bike of the awkward manual side switches. Adding a battery and motor also makes for a faster, more efficient shift. Gone are the worn down cables struggling to shift the chain from gear to gear. The unassisted calibration and expert control of the electronic shifters practically eliminate wear and tear.
What may be of greater importance is the electronic shifters current lack of manual override - necessary to compensate for events such as battery failure. Reliability, therefore, is an area in which manual gear shifters appear superior. As touched upon previously however, manual gear change is equally prone to reliability issues due to the stress often placed on the gear changing Bowden cables. This stress can cause irreparable damage to the cables that can lead to time consuming repairs.
Electronic shifters also provide an in-built control and calibration, meaning what they lose in the lack of override they make up for in providing a system relieved of human error make gear change generally more efficient.When on top form there is no doubt that electronic shifters provide the more effortless riding experience. They rid the bike of the awkward side switch that can cause difficulties for those with reduced hand or finger mobility, or even for riders subjected to the numbness that comes with colder weather conditions.
In just a few months they could most definitely prove well-worth the purchase. Right now, it is down to the individual to decide if the benefits outweigh the cost enough to take the leap into the new age of cycling.
On the other hand, they do have many attributes that may be worth bearing in mind. Electronic gear shifters provide an effortless and accurate gear shift, ridding the bike of the awkward manual side switches. Adding a battery and motor also makes for a faster, more efficient shift. Gone are the worn down cables struggling to shift the chain from gear to gear. The unassisted calibration and expert control of the electronic shifters practically eliminate wear and tear.
What may be of greater importance is the electronic shifters current lack of manual override - necessary to compensate for events such as battery failure. Reliability, therefore, is an area in which manual gear shifters appear superior. As touched upon previously however, manual gear change is equally prone to reliability issues due to the stress often placed on the gear changing Bowden cables. This stress can cause irreparable damage to the cables that can lead to time consuming repairs.
Electronic shifters also provide an in-built control and calibration, meaning what they lose in the lack of override they make up for in providing a system relieved of human error make gear change generally more efficient.When on top form there is no doubt that electronic shifters provide the more effortless riding experience. They rid the bike of the awkward side switch that can cause difficulties for those with reduced hand or finger mobility, or even for riders subjected to the numbness that comes with colder weather conditions.
In just a few months they could most definitely prove well-worth the purchase. Right now, it is down to the individual to decide if the benefits outweigh the cost enough to take the leap into the new age of cycling.
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If you're serious about mountain biking, you might want to check out the latest Cube mountain bikes.
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