Wayne Stetina leaves Shimano after 37 years, joins SRAM

[saab2000]

What are we even talking about that the Big 3 haven’t had any advances in like 30 years?

I can think of essentially nothing that was better 30 years ago except lower traffic, less open hostility on the roads and fewer cell phone-distracted drivers.

[BobbyJones]

Originally Posted by saab2000

What are we even talking about that the Big 3 haven’t had any advances in like 30 years?

I can think of essentially nothing that was better 30 years ago except lower traffic, less open hostility on the roads and fewer cell phone-distracted drivers.

Amen.

In the mechanical world, I can't think of one "improvement" since DA7800. The pinnacle of performance, reliability, ease of maintenance and so on.

More choices? Yes. Improvement? No.

[saab2000]

Originally Posted by BobbyJones

Amen.

In the mechanical world, I can't think of one "improvement" since DA7800. The pinnacle of performance, reliability, ease of maintenance and so on.

More choices? Yes. Improvement? No.

I never had 7800 but I’ve heard this from others as well.

I do, however, have Shimano 11-speed and love it and have no desire to go back to fewer gears. There’s no downside. I was happy on 8 until I got 10. Then I got 11 and don’t wish to go backwards. Next up is 12 or 1x13. Love modern stuff for the most part.

Ok, maybe not loving all modern frames, some of which are attractive only to their designer…. A shape only a mother could love….

[54ny77]

I'd agree with that, since I'm also biased and run 7800 drivetrain on a few bikes...but SRAM electronic is: really. friggin'. cool.

time will tell on if it's running as well in 15 years like some of my 7800 stuff.

by the way the 7800 crank is a thing of beauty, and i have--ahem!--a few of them....but i've really taken a liking to 9000. i use 9000 crank on one bike with 7800 everything else. they're all aluminum jewelry!

Originally Posted by BobbyJones

Amen.

In the mechanical world, I can't think of one "improvement" since DA7800. The pinnacle of performance, reliability, ease of maintenance and so on.

More choices? Yes. Improvement? No.

[deluz]

Wayne is a friend of a friend.
Only met him once but he seemed like a very intense person.
He had been in a bad accident and was not riding at the time.
Unfortunately never got a chance to ride with him.
My guess is SRAM could benefit a lot with his presence.

[merckx]

On the tangent of crank aesthetics, this was Shimano's most handsome unit imho.

[Marvinlungwitz]

.

[merckx]

Originally Posted by deluz

Wayne is a friend of a friend.
Only met him once but he seemed like a very intense person.
He had been in a bad accident and was not riding at the time.
Unfortunately never got a chance to ride with him.
My guess is SRAM could benefit a lot with his presence.

I think it was brother Dale who was in the bad accident.

[witcombusa]

Originally Posted by merckx

On the tangent of crank aesthetics, this was Shimano's most handsome unit imho.

And this would be my entry as Campy's best.

[merckx]

Originally Posted by witcombusa

And this would be my entry as Campy's best.

Agree.

[AngryScientist]

Here's my vote for Sram's best looking crank

[mcteague]

Originally Posted by witcombusa

And this would be my entry as Campy's best.

I have an old Chorus stuck on my wall as a decoration. Cyclists..

[Fivethumbs]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

Here's my vote for Sram's best looking crank

Okay, that was funny.

[weisan]

Originally Posted by leftsidedrive

Sure.

Two quick examples (but the advantages are endless):

1. Years ago I had a customer come in that had been injured while serving in the military. He had extensive damage on his left hand from being shot. He essentially had a pinkie and no other digits left on his left hand. He was looking for a road bike, but was concerned that he wouldn't be able to shift the front derailleur. He was right. There was no way in hell he was able to shift a mechanical bike (or use the front brake).

I mentioned that a 6770 equipped bike had the ability to re-program the button placement as well as add a climber switch to the right side of the handle bar. He could shift all 10 gears in the rear and well as shift the 2 rings in the front entirely with his right hand. Furthermore, I put a cable splitter on the right brake lever that would actuate both calipers bw squeezing the right brake....

Boom. Di2 gave the ability for someone to ride a bike. After seeing that, I was sold. The modern technology empowered someone to be able to ride and enjoy a bicycle when they previously were not able to.



2. Hand crank trikes are used in Para road racing frequently. They notoriously have HORRIBLE front shifting and BARELY PASSABLE rear shifting due to the controls being on the "crank arms" and the horrible cable routing needed to accommodate this. Wireless Etap groups completely change the game here. I have the ability to set an athlete up with a functioning and reliable drivetrain now. Previously it was done with a mix of groups that consisted of indexing in the rear and friction in the front. That's a thing of the past now with wireless shifting groups.

I've worked with all levels of para cycling athletes from the ruff and tuff local cycle rugby dudes all the way up to Olympic level long distance road cyclists. Modern technology allows these people to function at the level they need to just as any other person who wants to ride a bike.

I understand people's views like: "they just don't make 'em like the used to", and "they haven't made anything credible in 20 years", but that's just flat out wrong.

Lastly, It's not uncommon for older customers to come in and insist their modern bike be equipped with a triple in the front to meet their needs for lower gearing. They will swear up and down that a modern compact double and a wide range cassette in the rear can't be lower than their 3x9 or 3x10 bike of the past. I calmly pull up gear charts and explain gear inches, gain ratios, and gear over lap to these customers to no avail.

We have a long standing tradition in our industry of coming up with solutions to problems that don't exist all for the sake of having the newest, latest and greatest thing. Why would you run Dura Ave with 12 gears when you could have it with 13! Although there are many problems with modern groups, there is still innovation that addresses needs.

The truth is, if you don't embrace technology, you will be left behind....

Sorry for the rant.

Once again, I knew if I wait long enough and be patient, the occasional gems of wisdom and reason will emerge out of the normal noise and tired rants...something that actually add value, something that's thought-provoking, something that is fair, balanced viewpoint and well articulated.
Thank you left pal for taking the time to write this up.

Now, on to the next person who will add more noise, back to our regular program....

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

Here's my vote for Sram's best looking crank

POY, Post of Yesterday...

For right above, I guess -pal didn't know Wayne...coming BACK to Wayne 'noise'(and yes, his brother Dale, had the accident)..Wayne is a great guy and very dedicated to his job, his employer..why it's surprising to ME, who has known him for 25 years, why he as moved on from shimano...

Noise out