Cranky Tom
Posts:58
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| 10/01/2015 11:07 AM |
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So if you had to make a snap decision (like today) on buying a new road bike because a screaming deal presented itself and you had a choice between the same bike with either Ultegra electronic 11 speed and disc brakes or DA mechanical 11 speed and caliper brakes, which would you choose?
The bike is the Specialized Tarmac Pro and the price difference between the two options is negligible. I'm pretty intrigued with the idea of going electronic but not so much about the need for disc brakes on a road bike. Then again, it seems like that's the way the industry is heading. The wheels on my current bikes are not 11 speed compatible so either way I won't be able to use them on the new bike. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 10/01/2015 11:25 AM |
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The DA 9000 mechanical stuff is pretty damn sweet....dunno if you'll be giving much up vs. electronic on that front. I have 10 speed Ultegra Di2 and while I like it, I am not blown away by it, either. I recently got back on my older bike w/ Campag mechanical and never once thought "man, I miss my D12".
Seems that disc brakes are still very much in their infancy re: frame standards. I envision quite a few changes in that regard in the coming years (thru-axles, brake mounts, etc) so that may sway you one way or another as well.
If you live in an exceptional hilly or wet area, disc brakes may have added appeal, but (IMO, only) I think they are overkill on a road bike (at this time).
Are you going to race on this bike or use carbon wheels? either of those answers could influence your decision re: discs. Don't think discs are USAC-approved for road races yet. Discs on carbon wheels would be a big improvement in braking vs. rim brakes.
Not certain if that helps or makes it harder to decide...LOL!! |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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vtguy
Posts:298
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| 10/01/2015 11:25 AM |
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| DA mechanical. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 10/01/2015 11:32 AM |
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As with any purchase I go with the proven stuff so DA mechanical w caliper brakes.
Polls are always wrong tho. |
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zootracer
Posts:833
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| 10/01/2015 11:45 AM |
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| DA mechanical |
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Cranky Tom
Posts:58
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| 10/01/2015 11:54 AM |
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Thanks for the quick responses, guys.
Cosmic - to answer your question, I don't expect to be racing on the bike. I'm on an extended hiatus from my racing days (such as they were). Four kids between the ages of 8 and 12 will do that to a guy. I'll be using the bike for my usual training routine - mostly solo training rides really early in the mornings before the kids' sports start for the day and the occasional fast group rides, centuries, etc.
Both versions of the bike come with Specialized's Roval carbon wheels on them so, yes, I'll be using carbon wheels. But, one of the things I don't like about the disc version is that Specialized apparently uses a unique hub design to allow them to get their desired chain line without having to make the chain stays longer, which means that you can't run non-Roval disc wheels on the bike without changing the derailleur hangar and possibly sacrificing some shifting performance. So, your point about changing/different standards is a good one.
Decisions . . . decisions . . .
Thanks again. |
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Nick A
Posts:625
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| 10/01/2015 12:13 PM |
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DA Mechanical. No brainer.
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 10/01/2015 12:17 PM |
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So really you just need a $1k rig with Shimano 105 :-)
I feel your pain...yesterday I spent from 3pm till 7:30 pm shuttling my kids between swim team practice and soccer practice. Saturday my daughter will be in pool 6:30 am and once she's done it is straight on to my boys soccer match. |
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Cranky Tom
Posts:58
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| 10/01/2015 12:56 PM |
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That's spot on OC! And even with a $1k rig with 105 I'd still be the weakest link in the system! This would clearly be a luxury purchase but the price is REALLY unbelievable which is the only reason I'm even considering it.
Yeah, the kids' activities are just unreal. This weekend we have a swim meet for two of our kids on Saturday plus multiple soccer and basketball games for the two others on both Saturday and Sunday. I love watching them play, though. |
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jookey
Posts:197
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| 10/01/2015 01:20 PM |
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| I tell ya, I love love love my Utegra Di2. I do miss it when on my old bike. Never had to adjust anything ever. That said, I'm not sold on the disk brakes. Thus I'd probably go with the Mechanical for now until they make disk brakes "more better". If you just had electronic shifting, I'd say go for it. Then again, who needs brakes. They just slow you down. |
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 10/01/2015 01:39 PM |
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So what's the difference between mech and electronic in terms of durability and reliability on these 10/11 sp systems? I've only run mechanical ultegra 10 & 11 and I feel like over time the shifting accuracy degrades so that there are certain cogs where I have to shift 2x to get to them and sometimes it will skip over these gears. I've changed cables and housings and still have the problem so I think the brifter may be wearing out somehow. I never had this problem with dura ace 9sp. It only took about 8000 miles on ultegra 11 for this to start happening.
I wonder if this problem would go away with electronic. |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 10/01/2015 04:21 PM |
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| "Monty, I'd like to go with door #2, please…" |
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Cranky Tom
Posts:58
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| 10/01/2015 05:52 PM |
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| Well, at the risk of incurring the wrath of the Forum, I gotta tell you all I went with the Ui2/disc option. It came down to the fact that I don't "need" a new bike. This was an unexpected opportunity to buy a bike at a stellar discount. In the past I've always been conservative tech-wise with my bikes but this time I figured it'd be fun to try the more cutting edge stuff. If I end up being underwhelmed after riding it for a few months, I'll just sell it and happily go back to riding my current bike. If I'd been in a position where I really needed to replace my current bike, I'd have gone with the mechanical DA as the safer choice. I'll give you all a ride report after I've put a few miles on it. I hope this doesn't get me banned from the Forum! Seriously - thanks to all of you for your input. |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 10/01/2015 08:31 PM |
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| I imagine it will be just as fun as if you had made the other choice - enjoy! |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 10/01/2015 08:43 PM |
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"I don't really need a bike so I am buying a Tarmac Pro with di2"
Way to put the hurt on other forumites. Hell yeah that should get you banned. |
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zootracer
Posts:833
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| 10/01/2015 09:06 PM |
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| My opinion should not count as I'm a Campy guy anyway.... |
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Nick A
Posts:625
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| 10/01/2015 10:12 PM |
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No worries. I'm used to my wife asking my advice, and doing the opposite.
:-)
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Yo Mike
Posts:338
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| 10/02/2015 07:54 AM |
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"you can't run non-Roval disc wheels on the bike without changing the derailleur hangar and possibly sacrificing some shifting performance. "
FAIL. Not that I'm a Roval snob, but this is just to restrictive for my tastes.
Mechanical, of course. Can I still use the break pads, cables, and tires of my choice?
LOL Huck and Nick |
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Gonzo Cyclist
Posts:568
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| 10/02/2015 10:30 AM |
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The MTB'er in me says, do the Ultegra with the hydro discs.........I could care less about the electric aspect
The Roadie in me says, DA Mechanical, it does not get much better than that as far as refinement
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Spud
Posts:525
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| 10/02/2015 01:29 PM |
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| Gonzo, if you're buying, I'll take option #1. Otherwise, mechanical is just fine with me. :-) |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 10/02/2015 08:01 PM |
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| Cranky, remember to get those discs seated properly. I'd love to hear how the perform. |
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Cranky Tom
Posts:58
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| 10/18/2015 08:01 PM |
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Here are links to a couple of photos of the bike (sorry I still need to learn how to embed photos here).
https://www.dropbox.com/s/v4kur6ml0ud2ir5/2015-10-17%2012.16.33.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ewwq83753wddj6x/2015-10-17%2012.15.24.jpg?dl=0
I picked it up on Friday and put in a little over 50 miles on it yesterday. The frame is a 61cm. The first impressions were interesting. Overall the ride is very smooth. The bike I've been riding is a 2010 Tarmac Pro and the new bike is definitely smoother than the old one. But it doesn't feel wooden either. It's really very comfortable. I like the shape of the shifters. I've got big hands and the shifters fit my hands well (they remind me a bit of the DA 7800 shifters). The Di2 is nice, though I wasn't immediately overwhelmed by it. The shifts are precise - especially the front - but it didn't totally blow me away. I did start to like it better the longer I was on the bike though. The braking with the discs is very good and definitely better than the braking on my 2010 Tarmac which has carbon wheels on it. But, again, I wasn't completely blown away like I was when I switched from v-brakes to hydraulic discs on my mountain bike. LSD is right about getting the discs seated property. The shop did a poor job of that but I was able to get it mostly straightened out before my ride.
I think the biggest surprise is the weight of the bike. I expected it to be a little bit heavier than my 2010 Tarmac because of the Di2 and the discs (the old Tarmac has SRAM Red on it). I haven't put the bike on a scale but it feels quite a bit heavier than my old bike. I'm not a gram counter by any means. I'm 6'4" and 200 lbs so bike weight isn't something I've ever worried about a whole lot. I'm just surprised at how big the weight difference feels.
I'll let you guys know how things change as I get the fit dialed in and put more miles on it.
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 10/18/2015 09:36 PM |
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pretty sweet! I love bike pjorn....
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 10/19/2015 01:25 PM |
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The all-black paint job will make up in speed for the added weight.
If nothing else, you are adding data to the disc brake and electronic shift debates.
Enjoy! |
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SideBySide
Posts:444
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| 10/19/2015 01:53 PM |
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Nice! Congrats. I am glad that when you turned it around that you put it on the big ring!  |
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zootracer
Posts:833
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| 10/19/2015 04:53 PM |
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| Nice...the only white handlebar tape that stayed clean for me was Fizik.... |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 10/19/2015 06:26 PM |
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| Sweet looking ride. Was going to say that if it's too heavy for you will gladly take it off your hands but its too small. Dang. Enjoy. |
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