The beginning of a wireless revolution from the leaders in clean cockpits? Combined with cable-free shifting, this prototype dropper indicates that it could come soon.
What do we have here? This image of UCI Cross Country World Cup Champion, Jolanda Neff, appeared in a recent announcement that she's joining forces with Emily Batty on the Trek Factory Racing XC team in 2019. Zooming in on Jolanda's Trek race machine, things get very interesting:
Is that an electronically activated dropper post and rear derailleur? Wireless eTap style? Sure looks like it. Aside from the two brakes and two remote suspension lockouts, no other cables or housing are visible. The shifter and dropper remotes look like mirror images of one another, which will likely help make for a seamless ride experience.
A recent patent application published in July confirms that SRAM / RockShox are indeed working on an electronic dropper and may give hints as to how it works. The drivetrain was previously spotted during the World Cup race season.
How far out are things for the public? Have they gotten around the laggy actuation times other attempts had issues with? Your guesses are as good as ours, but we'll be sure to keep you posted.
Ana_Rchy
11/1/2018 10:43 AM
Allen_Gleckner
10/31/2018 12:37 PM
conner.kuhns
11/2/2018 8:49 AM
stiingya
11/4/2018 1:42 AM
on electric vehicles where the electric motor is there to be used as a brake. (also often with back up systems)
NOT remote controlled calipers...
Garrett
10/31/2018 11:34 AM
maximumradness
10/31/2018 10:52 AM
Speed.
Leverage.
Effortless.
Maintence.
Wear parts.
Internal routing.
Cockpit aesthetics.
Speed!!!!
I’ll gladly take the batteries in place of the 1908 technology on our bad mo fuggin super bikes.
And as a mechanic, I think this keeps a lot of people happy, including the “smart shops”
HodRaske
10/31/2018 6:33 AM
Diag
10/31/2018 5:20 AM
qblambda
10/31/2018 7:10 AM
No cables, so far less maintenance.
No sh*tty cable routing.
Less effort on the shifter.
More accuracy that remains the same during its lifetime.
...
Sorry but I can't find any downside except pricetag.
onenerdykid*
10/31/2018 10:37 AM
casman86
10/31/2018 3:48 PM
onenerdykid*
11/1/2018 12:58 PM
PositronicJohnny
10/31/2018 2:03 PM
Hm. Maybe I'm lucky with my Reverb, but I haven't had a single problem with it in 9 months of riding. No bleeds, no lock outs, no hot weather problems (90 degree summer), no cold weather problems (snow rides).
At some point I might put a Wolf Tooth on it because I hate the plunger, but it isn't because it doesn't work.
I'll give you less effort on the shifter. The rest of it? meh. Internal routing. Accuracy? That remains to be seen.
millsr4
11/1/2018 6:11 AM
casman86
10/31/2018 3:38 PM
casman86
10/31/2018 3:35 PM
casman86
10/31/2018 1:34 AM
onenerdykid*
10/31/2018 10:38 AM
casman86
10/31/2018 3:32 PM
onenerdykid*
11/1/2018 1:05 PM
casman86
11/2/2018 11:08 AM
yzedf
11/2/2018 4:49 PM
Stiksandstones
10/30/2018 9:14 PM
Bennyt99
10/30/2018 8:19 PM
Broken_spoke.photo
10/30/2018 7:50 PM
TEAMROBOT
10/31/2018 7:23 PM
FreeForAll
11/1/2018 6:49 PM
Whattheheel
11/2/2018 12:05 PM