Shifting problems

[avanti]

I know this has been discussed here and there but it seems like the pro's are having gear more shifting issues now than in the past. Andy Schleck (last year and this), Danielson, Cancellara.

Could this be due in part to electronic shifters, "improved" designs, relatively new manufactures (SRAM), or what?

If there is a similar thread let me know - I missed it.

 

[hrotha]

I don't think there's been enough incidents to draw any conclusions, especially since we tend to forget about older ones. Andy's had two in a short time so that might go beyond normal accidents and right into "dude can't operate a bike", but the same doesn't seem to apply to Danielson and Cancellara.

 

[happychappy]

10 and 11 speed = ****.

 

[Magnus]

Both Schleck and Canc messed up with their Di2 in the TdS prologue. It makes no sense. Dropping the chain with a Di2 FD takes a real effort. I'm guessing some mechanic at Leopard is buying the next time someone has to be sent home from the vuelta

 

[euanli]

Quite often it is user error rather than mechanical error. Certainly with Cancellara and Schleck. Andy Schleck has a habit of climbing in the bigring on the big cog at the back.

 

[Magnus]

Quite often it is user error rather than mechanical error. Certainly with Cancellara and Schleck. Andy Schleck has a habit of climbing in the bigring on the big cog at the back.

Have you ridden with Di2?

 

[euanli]

No, however Di2 still functions as a chain and derailer system no matter how much it tweaks the positions based on what gear you are in.

Cancellara admitted himself that in the Prologue he accidentally pressed the shift button = user error

Schleck constantly puts large amounts of power down with a crossed chain. No matter how much of Di2 adjustment is going to change a cross chained gear into anything else. Dropped chains. Shcleck has dropped chains on SRAM, he had dropped chains on Shimano. He would probably drop chains Campagnolo as well.

 

[Magnus]

No, however Di2 still functions as a chain and derailer system no matter how much it tweaks the positions based on what gear you are in.

Cancellara admitted himself that in the Prologue he accidentally pressed the shift button = user error

Schleck constantly puts large amounts of power down with a crossed chain. No matter how much of Di2 adjustment is going to change a cross chained gear into anything else. Dropped chains. Shcleck has dropped chains on SRAM, he had dropped chains on Shimano. He would probably drop chains Campagnolo as well.

When installed correctly, it's close to impossible to mess up the shifting. Even when shifting in the front while standing in the pedals. But I guess Fabu might be putting out a few more watts in the beginning of a prologue than the average rider.

 

[UpTheRoad]

No, however Di2 still functions as a chain and derailer system no matter how much it tweaks the positions based on what gear you are in.

Cancellara admitted himself that in the Prologue he accidentally pressed the shift button = user error

Schleck constantly puts large amounts of power down with a crossed chain. No matter how much of Di2 adjustment is going to change a cross chained gear into anything else. Dropped chains. Shcleck has dropped chains on SRAM, he had dropped chains on Shimano. He would probably drop chains Campagnolo as well.

Schleck could probably drop his chain on a fixed gear. And for sure he wouldn't be able to put it back on.

 

[hfer07]

No, however Di2 still functions as a chain and derailer system no matter how much it tweaks the positions based on what gear you are in.

Cancellara admitted himself that in the Prologue he accidentally pressed the shift button = user error

Schleck constantly puts large amounts of power down with a crossed chain. No matter how much of Di2 adjustment is going to change a cross chained gear into anything else. Dropped chains. Shcleck has dropped chains on SRAM, he had dropped chains on Shimano. He would probably drop chains Campagnolo as well.

to really do an erroneous shifting on Di2 is what Cance did-"mistakenly" pressing the buttons-whereas Andy has just proved to be a complete dumb because one thing is shift to the wrong gear and another one is to "jamb" an electric system already calibrated. anybody in the world knows that you shift the cogs first & then the chain rings-never both at the same time, for god's sake

 

[ElChingon]

Man, this was covered in detail back during last years Tour.

No matter how perfectly tuned the drive train is on a perfectly level stand, you can still get the shifting to fail out on the live road. First, the rider can position the bike at an angle that will allow the chain to drop if done at the precise (or in this case wrong) time. Many riders use an anti-chain-suck device to help (not fool proof) from the chain from dropping. Then if the road is not perfect when the shifting occurs you can still manage to have the chain drop or miss shift, imagine hitting a pothole/bump right when the chain is between gears, you're going to mis-shift. Lastly, there are riders who don't know they are in the worse possible position to shift and shift none the less, aka Schleckanical. Andy was in the big ring going up hill last year and attempted to downshift as he was going as hard as he could, try it at home and see what happens, you may get it right but try it again and give us some numbers assuming you don't fall off and break something.

 

[Magnus]

Man, this was covered in detail back during last years Tour.

No matter how perfectly tuned the drive train is on a perfectly level stand, you can still get the shifting to fail out on the live road. First, the rider can position the bike at an angle that will allow the chain to drop if done at the precise (or in this case wrong) time. Many riders use an anti-chain-suck device to help (not fool proof) from the chain from dropping. Then if the road is not perfect when the shifting occurs you can still manage to have the chain drop or miss shift, imagine hitting a pothole/bump right when the chain is between gears, you're going to mis-shift. Lastly, there are riders who don't know they are in the worse possible position to shift and shift none the less, aka Schleckanical. Andy was in the big ring going up hill last year and attempted to downshift as he was going as hard as he could, try it at home and see what happens, you may get it right but try it again and give us some numbers assuming you don't fall off and break something.

Last year Schleck was on mechanic now he's on electric. Two different worlds in terms of chain dropping.

 

[ultimobici]

Last year Schleck was on mechanic now he's on electric. Two different worlds in terms of chain dropping.

Nope. They both work in exactly the same way, in that they are derailleur systems. If you are cross chained to the degree that AS was in Lugano no amount of electronic wizardry will guarantee a clean shift. Di2 is good but it is evidently not foolproof.

Also one has to wonder why he was in the gear he was at that point. Surely he'd checked out the course? Even by looking along the lake from the start-house would have given him a clue that there was a nasty climb to contend with.

 

[ElChingon]

Nope. They both work in exactly the same way, in that they are derailleur systems. If you are cross chained to the degree that AS was in Lugano no amount of electronic wizardry will guarantee a clean shift. Di2 is good but it is evidently not foolproof.

Also one has to wonder why he was in the gear he was at that point. Surely he'd checked out the course? Even by looking along the lake from the start-house would have given him a clue that there was a nasty climb to contend with.

Exactly! Are we the only ones who know how these things work

 

[ultimobici]

Exactly! Are we the only ones who know how these things work

I find it funny how Di2 is hailed as the solution to all our derailleur issues, like a gearing version of the Second Coming!

I see scores of different bikes in my workshop every day. The common denominator for the ones that mis-shift is poor set up. Either initially, or as a result of outside forces, ie crash-damage or lack of maintenance.

This is one thing that Di2 cannot exempt itself from. Bent hanger is something even Di2 & Campag EPS will not deal with.

 

[Magnus]

Nope.

I'm just talking out of personal experience. In my experience mechanic and electric is two different worlds in terms of chain dropping.

 

[Michele]

Last year Schleck was on mechanic now he's on electric. Two different worlds in terms of chain dropping.

Yeah but if you put 53x21-up the chance the chain to fall is much higher, not depending on your gruppo brand.