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I am just in the process of putting together a new CX bike for next season. I want to use discs and preferably hydraulic. Now if I have understood correctly the Shimano ones are Di2 only. I am a little aprehensive about using Di2 as I have broken off rear mechs a couple of times when the courses have been really muddy. My LBS mates reckon this wouldn't happen with electric shifters. So anybody been using Di2 for cross racing. Experiences please.
You can get shimano hyro's with mechanical shift, I've built a few up.
Having said that, DI2 is awesome if you can afford it & want to risk the mechs in the mud (I personally wouldn't unless someone else was paying!)
shimano 685's and new 11 speed 105 are lovely kit, no need to go electronic unless you want it !
I have used Di2 Ultegra in the mud, but haven't raced on it. The shifting seems to work better in the filth than a traditional setup, probably to do with the two way motorised movement. I can't see it being any more resistant to snapping than a normal mech, although it does have a crash mode that disengages the motor - I am not sure how that is triggered.
If you shop about you can get a Di2 rear mech for just over £100, so about double the price of a normal Ultegra one. If I had a habit of trashing mechs I would have stuck with cable gears.
I know people who race di2. It works. Only problem is its spendy if you brake it and you will racing cross.
Having seen multiple rear mechs snap off on practice laps, I'd not, personally. It's not all like the Worlds. Bikes with a kilo of mud and a completely covered front mech.
But then I raced singlespeed. Might go to 2x1 for next season.
Hmmm..
Nahh.
Nah I'd not bother, just get the best mechanical light stuff you can and jet was the hell out of it 😉
If youve got the money then not having to swap mucky cables would be handy. But its not going to make you any faster (and the money you save goes a long way towards a 2nd bike....which definately make you faster).
Di2 mech is tougher, but derailleur hanger is still a weak point, and the Di2 mech is bulkier than mechanical, meaning its going to get hit more easily in a crash or collision
685 mechanical shifter with hydraulic disc are fantastic!
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will you have a pit troll and two bikes?
If so, how muddy is your bike going to get in a lap?
If not.... I trashed 2 mechs this season, both due to horrendous mud, and no second bike.
No pit bitch unfortunately but I will have my old CX bike as a second bike though security at the races often seems to be a little lax so would probably need to lock the bike to the railings in the pit 😐 So the most think no for Di2 then. I can afford to buy it but it's the replacing it that worries me.