Funny enough, I had those exact hoods on my Colnago with the 7sp Mavic group (including the starfish crank)… and they were just as uncomfortable for me. Plenty to the fit that was off with what was standard practice for bar shape, position and stem length for my bike that was a 1995 model. But those hoods were never my favorite. Thanks for the reminder, since it ties together well from my actual usage of both.
WRT brake pivots, this isn’t the exact match for GRX Di2 vs Mech, but it gets to the point:
In theory, those hoods should be very comfortable…if you are a hoods only rider that wraps their fingers to the outside and only the thumb inside. I can see the ergonomics work well for that position.
But anything else becomes problematic, IMO…obviously the GRX shape has taken some steps to provide more options, but I still see it as a limiting design.
But as noted, I haven’t ridden it…but I do really like my mech GRX, along with my previous Ultegra mech and current 105 mech on my travel bike.
Easy same thing I did with my gravel bike when I installed the dropper on my GRX Di2 rig. I put it in the steering tube of the fork. Heck Pro (Shimano accessories arm) MAKES a Di2 steering tube accessory. and that’s what I used.
I’m surprised groupset manufacturers haven’t given athletes a choice between different hood shape profiles. We do it for saddles, handlebars, etc., so why not for that piece of rubber (+ reinforcement where necessary)?
My Di2 Bus run goes…
Battery (steerer tube) to Left Brifter (top terminal)
Left Brifter (bottom terminal) to bar end Di2 Junction
Di2Junction to Right Brifter (bottom junction via internal bar routing)
Right Brifter (Top Junction) to Port 1 on Internal splitter (bottom of seat tube)
Port 2 on internal splitter to FD
Port 3 on internal splitter to RD
Brilliant! Some expert level Mcgyvering there! I always thought of the extra port in the shifters as just a plug for satellite shifters, but for sure, any plug on di2 works the same as another.
Buuuuut… not to poo poo on the parade, only one shifter on mtb, and no clue if there would be 2 ports. Sounds like they’ve done away with the junction boxes too. Also, can’t really hide the wires easily on mtb. Seems like “the man” wants mtb to go fully internal routing and hiding all the wires. All that said, I am more than certain shimano is already on it and they have something planned! There’s simply no way they don’t have an answer to srams newest offering. Maybe shimano gives hammerhead’s di2 integration back to sram in exchange to a little battery patent forgiveness!? Hahaha
is it me or is the pricing of the mechanical GRX 12-speed completely out of line?
Maybe its just the website, but it show’s $444.99 for Right Shifter/Caliper combo and then $444.99 for Left/Left setup. Above it say’s $444.99 for the “set” so I dont know what to think.
If it is $444.99 for both right and left, that makes more sense but $889.98 for the “set” is high.
It’s probably per. Retail price for Shimano mechanical hydro shifters has always been quite high. The 810 mechanical shifters were around 380 if I recall. The DI2 levers are actually probably cheaper to make without the intricate mechanicals.
Is that only because of the battery? Gravel solves the battery problem unless there’s a voltage issue, doesn’t it? (asked the guy with his GRX Di2 battery in his steering tube so he can run a dropper AND Di2)
I see no reason this will happen, but oh how I wish they’d make an 11 speed mechanical rear derailleur with that range, and an 11-51t 11 speed cassette that fit an HG hub. (sigh)
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