1x11 Di2?

[NHAero]

Maybe a nutty idea. My CAAD10 has the narrowest gear range of any of my bikes, and it's suitable as is, but it would be easy to duplicate with a 1x11 - a 42T ring and 11-34 cassette. I've been intrigued with the Di2 equipment. It seems there is a transition from the 6870 Ultegra to the 8050.

- Can these systems work with just a rear shifter?
- Is the 8050 a noticeable upgrade from the 6870?
- Is there a configuration possible with the R600 shift buttons only, and conventional brake levers?

Is this a dumb idea period?

[ColonelJLloyd]

FWIW, in your case you'd be eliminating several of the tallest and shortest gears while at the same time increasing the jumps between what gears you do end up with. On a MTB I'm cool with this, but not on the road. That's just me and is a comment on 1x generally.

[whateveronfire]

My take: one of my favorite parts of Di2 is never worrying about the FD not shifting. 1x11 eliminates that advantage.

I have a bike with Di2 and one with mech Ultegra. They're both great. I kind of love the Di2 though. I don't pick that bike every time, but more often than the one without.

[NHAero]

Right now I have a 50-39 and a 12-30 10 speed cassette. The three top cogs are closer jumps, but for the vast majority of the riding time, the jumps are smaller in the 1x11 I'm describing. The 12-30 has seven cogs 15-17-19-21-24-27-30; the 11-34 has eight cogs over the same range - 15-17-19-21-23-25-27-30. Strange but true. I don't spend much time in 50-14 or higher, so the bigger jumps end up at the top. The 42-34 is a tad bit lower than the 39-30 I have now.

Given the above, any other insights? Thanks.


FWIW, in your case you'd go eliminate several of the tallest and shortest gears while at the same time increasing the jumps between what gears you do have. On a MTB I'm cool with this, but not on the road. That's just me and is a comment on 1x generally.

[ColonelJLloyd]

Given the above, any other insights? Thanks.

You could go to a super compact double up front coupled with an 11-25 or 11-28 cassette and keep all the range you actually use with tight jumps (like 11-12-13-14-15-16-17). Maybe you can couple the shifter with an XTR Di2 front mech? I don't have experience with it.

1x has it's place for sure, but if I had a Di2 front shifter I think I'd employ it personally.

[NHAero]

One thing I learned about the CAAD is that the smallest chainring that works is the 50T - the FD tab won't let the FD go lower. A 42-34 with an 11-28 would work just fine if I could shift the front!

You could go to a super compact double up front coupled with an 11-25 or 11-28 cassette and keep all the range you actually use with tight jumps (like 11-12-13-14-15-16-17). Maybe you can couple the shifter with an XTR Di2 front mech? I don't have experience with it.

1x has it's place for sure, but if I had a Di2 front shifter I think I'd employ it personally.

[sandyrs]

One thing I learned about the CAAD is that the smallest chainring that works is the 50T - the FD tab won't let the FD go lower. A 42-34 with an 11-28 would work just fine if I could shift the front!

Wickwerks makes a little nubbin you can attach to the braze-on to lower your front derailleur. I'm all for 1x di2 because it's cool but that might be cheaper!

[NHAero]

Cool beans! Thanks for pointing that out. Lowering the FD also means a new crankset, so not sure yet which is a lower cost approach.

I agree about the 1x di2 - there's a curiosity factor here!

Can anyone answer my original questions?

Thanks

QUOTE=sandyrs;2203501]Wickwerks makes a little nubbin you can attach to the braze-on to lower your front derailleur. I'm all for 1x di2 because it's cool but that might be cheaper![/QUOTE]

[geordanh]

Maybe a nutty idea. My CAAD10 has the narrowest gear range of any of my bikes, and it's suitable as is, but it would be easy to duplicate with a 1x11 - a 42T ring and 11-34 cassette. I've been intrigued with the Di2 equipment. It seems there is a transition from the 6870 Ultegra to the 8050.

- Can these systems work with just a rear shifter?
- Is the 8050 a noticeable upgrade from the 6870?
- Is there a configuration possible with the R600 shift buttons only, and conventional brake levers?

Is this a dumb idea period?

No it's a sweet idea. I love mine. r600 shifter to junction A box to BB junction box to XT RD and seatpost battery. Simple and pretty cheap if you buy the stuff used. Works with a road RD as far as I know as well.

Sorry I don't have a close up of the 600 climbing shifter - it's sort of embedded in the right tektro brake lever. Only thing I need to do is put a sprint shifter there to be able to down shift from the drops.

[Neil]

R-785 shifters, XTR Di2 mech, XX1 10-42 cassette, Wolfstooth 50T ring:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7621/27711261114_583cf02b0e_b.jpg

It's a CAAD12 frame.

[geordanh]

R-785 shifters, XTR Di2 mech, XX1 10-42 cassette, Wolfstooth 50T ring:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7621/27711261114_583cf02b0e_b.jpg

It's a CAAD12 frame.

The. Best. Wow.

[dekindy]

I seriously considered this. Spent a lot of time generating gear charts. I ultimately determined that power was more important than speed so a 40" front ring paired with the cassette you specified would have been my choice. Ultimately decided on 2x11 because there were too many compromises. Go electronic if you are concerned about front derailleur performance. I came into some money and splurged for eTap, looks really good on my Serotta Legend.

[NHAero]

Totally 'wicked pissah' as we native Bostonians say!
The R785 shifters are OK with the XTR RD because this isn't about cable pull anymore, is that right?


R-785 shifters, XTR Di2 mech, XX1 10-42 cassette, Wolfstooth 50T ring:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7621/27711261114_583cf02b0e_b.jpg

It's a CAAD12 frame.

[NHAero]

Thanks so much! Awesome set-up. What is the cassette?

No it's a sweet idea. I love mine. r600 shifter to junction A box to BB junction box to XT RD and seatpost battery. Simple and pretty cheap if you buy the stuff used. Works with a road RD as far as I know as well.

Sorry I don't have a close up of the 600 climbing shifter - it's sort of embedded in the right tektro brake lever. Only thing I need to do is put a sprint shifter there to be able to down shift from the drops.

[thermalattorney]

Is there a configuration possible with the R600 shift buttons only, and conventional brake levers?

Is this a dumb idea period?

Dumb idea? Maybe, but I love Di2 and the possibilities it opens up for funky shifting options.

You could definitely run a single R600 by the stem. Another option would be to use the new SW-R9150 satellite shifters that are similar to SRAM's blips, but those are $$$.

Two important notes if you're looking to build this up: You can't use Sprint shifters by themselves. The battery is the brains of the operation, so be sure to buy the latest-and-greatest BT-DN110 to ensure future compatibility.

[NHAero]

Thank you for your insights.
I was thinking of using the R600 in the way Geordanh has - embed into the brake hood on the right. Can you please clarify what you mean by using the R600 by itself? It appears that one can be used in place of the integrated di2 shifter, as Geordanh shows.

And what is a thermal attorney?


Dumb idea? Maybe, but I love Di2 and the possibilities it opens up for funky shifting options.

You could definitely run a single R600 by the stem. Another option would be to use the new SW-R9150 satellite shifters that are similar to SRAM's blips, but those are $$$.

Two important notes if you're looking to build this up: You can't use Sprint shifters by themselves. The battery is the brains of the operation, so be sure to buy the latest-and-greatest BT-DN110 to ensure future compatibility.

[Neil]

Totally 'wicked pissah' as we native Bostonians say!
The R785 shifters are OK with the XTR RD because this isn't about cable pull anymore, is that right?

Yep.

[thermalattorney]

Thank you for your insights.
I was thinking of using the R600 in the way Geordanh has - embed into the brake hood on the right. Can you please clarify what you mean by using the R600 by itself? It appears that one can be used in place of the integrated di2 shifter, as Geordanh shows.

And what is a thermal attorney?

Ahh. I was envisioning you using some plain jane drop brake levers by themselves, with the R600 placed on the tops of the bars by the stem. The thing with geordanh's setup is those levers are disc-only.

Thermal Attorney is a joke name, but the joke's on me because apparently there are lots of attorneys in the town of Thermal, CA.

[NHAero]

But the location of the R600 is flexible, right? I was indeed thinking of plain jane drop bar brake levers, and making a cut-out in the right hand lever hood for the R600.

Ahh. I was envisioning you using some plain jane drop brake levers by themselves, with the R600 placed on the tops of the bars by the stem. The thing with geordanh's setup is those levers are disc-only.

Thermal Attorney is a joke name, but the joke's on me because apparently there are lots of attorneys in the town of Thermal, CA.

[Look585]

If you have some soldering skilz, you can open up the R600 and make custom buttons.

The R600 will plug into the EW90 junction box: one button = upshift, other button = downshift.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7405/13125719714_716cdc4e7f_z_d.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7372/13126427504_938157ec9f_z_d.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7344/13126186133_dab4b100ac_z_d.jpg

[NHAero]

Nice hack!
Thanks
If you have some soldering skilz, you can open up the R600 and make custom buttons.

The R600 will plug into the EW90 junction box: one button = upshift, other button = downshift.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7405/13125719714_716cdc4e7f_z_d.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7372/13126427504_938157ec9f_z_d.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7344/13126186133_dab4b100ac_z_d.jpg

[kppolich]

1x11 on the CAAD10 has been awesome for me. 48T narrow/wide up front, 11-32 out back with the force 22 wiFli, can only image a clutch di2 system!
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/711/32916323346_94a601c934_b.jpg

[NHAero]

You guys are awesome.
Could you convert to electronic easily or would you be limited by SRAM's usage of both side's levers to shift the rear (if I understand the system properly, never ridden one)?

1x11 on the CAAD10 has been awesome for me. 48T narrow/wide up front, 11-32 out back with the force 22 wiFli, can only image a clutch di2 system!
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/711/32916323346_94a601c934_b.jpg

[aki]

Totally 'wicked pissah' as we native Bostonians say!
The R785 shifters are OK with the XTR RD because this isn't about cable pull anymore, is that right?

In Di2, road shifters are compatible with MTB rear derailleur, but it cannot be used with road FD at the same time. FD and RD have to match, shifters don't matter.

[aki]

But the location of the R600 is flexible, right? I was indeed thinking of plain jane drop bar brake levers, and making a cut-out in the right hand lever hood for the R600.

It should be possible. TRP Hylex is made to be run that way, while it is for hydraulic brake system.