Barely have we had time to process the deranged majesty of SRAM’s 1×11 drivetrain and freakishly large 42t cog, when already 2013 Shimano Dura Ace Di2 is upon us. While all the social media channels were lighting up with links to “sneak peeks” of the new stuff, I was quietly trudging through a few of the several hundred pieces of product copy I’m working on these days and just so happened to have Shimano’s web site open in a separate window. There, not particularly concealed, was a big graphic with a link to 2013 Dura Ace Di2 11-speed–studio photographs and product information and all.
I admit, viewing everything in glorious detail right there on the manufacturer’s site felt a little stale and lacked the excitement of seeing it covered in black tape or dirty and logoless on a test bike, but it was pretty useful from a “Hey look, here’s detailed photos and text about new Dura Ace” standpoint. If you haven’t seen it yet and are interested, you can check it out on the Dura Ace site. I’ve only skimmed the details, but what I saw suggested Dura Ace was following in the steps of Ultegra with more of a “junction box” and separate individual wires model. Looks like Shimano’s 11-speed chain–like Campy’s had before it–loses some of the cut-outs and stuff once it narrows to 11-speed. Otherwise, it’s an 11-speed.
I like that Shimano has quit screwing around with “7900” mechanical Dura Ace numbering and went straight into the 9000s for 2013 Dura Ace Di2. Suggests a lot of confidence on their part that this might be the last gruppo they’ll need to design for a while. Or that the Mayans are right. I’d post a questionnaire on here to ask how many of you plan to switch to 11-speed or electronics, but I’m pretty I know the adoption rate there would be in the negative numbers (indicating a half dozen of you will be driven to become permanent single-speed riders only).
Anyway, general consensus on the SRAM 11-speed was definitely “depends on what it costs,” though there were some solid haters out there, too. By definition, if you follow this blog, you’re probably a little salty and prone to be critical anyway, so tough to say what kind of focus group we represent. There’s at least some chance the industry would do well to read my posts and just do the exact opposite of everything I write.
Me, though, I would use that. I would use the shit out of that 1×11, though I’d be sad to find we have a new cassette body standard and probably a wheel with even worse triangulation than what we already have. But I suspect that if I could run a 37 or 39-tooth chainring and still have less than a 1:1 ratio I’d be pretty happy. Oh, and the chainring would also have to be quiet. If I need a noisy guide on there or anything, then I’d rather just forget it.
Speaking of forgetting things, I got to see a very old friend last night, and a very nice couple was staying with him after just arriving (literally a few hours before I got there) from a 1,000-mile ride up to Portland from San Francisco. Bill, who owns BikeFlights.com now, had worked with me long, long ago, and the couple had been Speedgoat customers. So here was a bunch of old Pennsylvania bicycle folk gathered in a home in Portland, talking bikes, and out comes this, fresh from a 1,000-mile ride up the coast.
Yes, that is a Cannondale jacket, still functional, back from when Cannondale clothing–like everything Cannondale–was made in the U.S.. These are different times, but economies are always changing. Maybe we’ll see something like the original Cannondale again one day. And who knows what happens once Shimano hits five-digit model numbers.