I suspect the whole “wiredless” approach is also driven somewhat by pro preferences, i.e. pro mechanics having to run wires through an entire team’s frames (40+ bikes), or a larger battery not needing to be charged everyday (I imagine it is a huge chore to get a full team’s set of AXS batteries charged after every stage of a Grand Tour, you’d need upwards of 20 plug-ins). Shimano will always be trying to sell components to a large market, but their professional team input also goes a long way. We forget that if you are looking at Ultegra and Dura Ace level components, you are looking at groupsets that are specifically designed for racing, and that includes all of the logistics in addition to the obvious factors like weight, ergonomics, and shift-speed. If you want a groupset without a racing focus, there are options out there.
2 Likes