By Amanda Nauman
Oh, Shimano Di2. What would I do without you?
Electronic shifting is one of those things that you don’t know you need until you’ve tried it. I recognize it’s a privilege to have electronic shifting and so many Di2 options for my bikes, but I fully endorse it for its intended purpose. The functionality, interchangeability, and ease of use will make you wonder why you didn’t switch to Di2 sooner. At least it did for me!
1x11 or 2x11
Both the 1x11 and 2x11 setups are great for their desired application. I use 1x11 for cyclocross racing and 2x11 for longer gravel events. In the shorter races, it's better for me to limit my gear choices and simplify the setup. In longer events, I appreciate having better gear range and smaller jumps on the cassette between gears. I don’t use the synchronized shift modes. Honestly, this is due to a lack of experience and keeping it simple, but I appreciate its ability to essentially think for the rider in certain instances.
Di2 Shifting Speed
Since switching to Di2 for cyclocross, I use the “Very Fast” speed setting for shifting. Having the fastest shifting possible really shines with the rapid speed changes and quantity of tight turns in cyclocross. I carry this over to longer gravel events because I’m used to the feel and snappiness. The freedom to map any function to any button is another feature that’s extremely useful. I set my multi-shift mode to "No Limit," so it continues shifting for as long as I hold the button.
E-TUBE Integration
I set most of my gear up for ease of access. The Shimano E-TUBE app makes this even easier because I can make changes on my mobile device. With the D-Fly module installed, I can arrange the shifter buttons at the tops of the hoods with my Garmin 1030 unit so that it clicks through data pages. Right now, the single click will cycle through the data screens, pressing and holding the right button brings me to the map screen, and pressing and holding the left button brings me to the elevation profile of upcoming climbs. If I feel like I missed a turn or need to review the map quickly, I like that the press-and-hold gets me information quickly without touching my computer.
Race-Specific Functionality
Setting my bike up for Unbound XL earlier this year, the biggest change was putting shifters on the ends of the PRO Missile aero bars. This was admittedly a difficult task with additional wires and junction box placement, but once it was installed, it blew away my expectations. Other than that, it's a pretty standard setup that works well across different events, course features, and environments. I've slung more mud and rain than is acceptable at my Di2 bikes, and they’ve never failed me. Reliability and functionality will keep me on team wires and happily shifting with the push of a button for as long as I’m riding a bike.
