Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

So my 624km old Giant TCR with Ultegra Di2 lost 'up' on the rear derailleur on today's ride.

No idea why, batteries are fully charged and 'down' works fine. Strangely the 'holding the down shifter for multiple shifts down' function seems to work, but erratically and not under load. Everything's fully charged, haven't changed any settings.

It'll be interesting to see what it turns out to be. This is the advantage on having a relatively new Giant, I suppose - it's the shop's problem now.

what is your shifter battery status?
this is one of the reasons I'm thinking about wiring my aethos - removing 2 batteries from the picture

jasonc wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 12:48 pm

what is your shifter battery status?
this is one of the reasons I'm thinking about wiring my aethos - removing 2 batteries from the picture

Both fully charged, allegedly, according to the Shimano app.

Though it has the feel of a failing battery somewhere. In that it didn't break suddenly - it slowly got worse and worse until it stopped working completely. I've stuck the RD on charge but the bike's due for a going over anyway so I'll still drop it off at Giant this afternoon.

It might be something stupid like the switch in the shifter failing. It is a bit weird that 'down' was absolutely ok. In reflection I should have probably changed the shifting mode to see if double tapping worked.

Trying to replace the rd cable on the Revolt at the moment. What a mission. Can't get the cable out the hole in the frame near the derailleur.

warthog1 wrote: Can't get the cable out the hole in the frame near the derailleur.

Been there.
Pull the cable out. Tie a length of cotton securely to the end of the cable.
Feed the cable back in at the bottom bracket opening (I presume).
Suck the cotton out the end of the frame with a vacuum cleaner and gently pull/guide the cable through the hole.

jasonc wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 12:48 pm

what is your shifter battery status?
this is one of the reasons I'm thinking about wiring my aethos - removing 2 batteries from the picture

Realised when I got home that the little mechanical 'click' that even Di2 has when shifting gears wasn't there on that lever.

Dropped it off at Giant who instantly confirmed the shifter is toast and will be replaced under warranty. Once again out came the phrase I hear a lot at bike shops 'I've never seen one break like that before'.

Tim wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 3:22 pm

warthog1 wrote: Can't get the cable out the hole in the frame near the derailleur.

Been there.
Pull the cable out. Tie a length of cotton securely to the end of the cable.
Feed the cable back in at the bottom bracket opening (I presume).
Suck the cotton out the end of the frame with a vacuum cleaner and gently pull/guide the cable through the hole.

I am pretty sure it feeds through plastic tubing inside the frame.
May give that a go or a small magnet on a wire. Thanks

Mr Purple wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 4:06 pm

jasonc wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 12:48 pm

what is your shifter battery status?
this is one of the reasons I'm thinking about wiring my aethos - removing 2 batteries from the picture

Realised when I got home that the little mechanical 'click' that even Di2 has when shifting gears wasn't there on that lever.

Dropped it off at Giant who instantly confirmed the shifter is toast and will be replaced under warranty. Once again out came the phrase I hear a lot at bike shops 'I've never seen one break like that before'.

Wonder if they tried a shifter reset - installing the battery backwards for a few minutes, then reinstall correctly. Of course a pce2 would be the best way to confirm

warthog1 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 5:41 pm

Tim wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 3:22 pm

warthog1 wrote: Can't get the cable out the hole in the frame near the derailleur.

Been there.
Pull the cable out. Tie a length of cotton securely to the end of the cable.
Feed the cable back in at the bottom bracket opening (I presume).
Suck the cotton out the end of the frame with a vacuum cleaner and gently pull/guide the cable through the hole.

I am pretty sure it feeds through plastic tubing inside the frame.
May give that a go or a small magnet on a wire. Thanks

Just use a good magnet to guide the gear cable through the opening. That's what I did.

biker jk wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 8:25 pm

warthog1 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 5:41 pm

Tim wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 3:22 pm

Been there.
Pull the cable out. Tie a length of cotton securely to the end of the cable.
Feed the cable back in at the bottom bracket opening (I presume).
Suck the cotton out the end of the frame with a vacuum cleaner and gently pull/guide the cable through the hole.

I am pretty sure it feeds through plastic tubing inside the frame.
May give that a go or a small magnet on a wire. Thanks

Just use a good magnet to guide the gear cable through the opening. That's what I did.

Thanks

If you don't have one, pick up one of cheap internal routing kits off AliExpress, absolutely worth every dollar.

Mr P, I'm not sure how one person can be so unlucky with bikes, hopefully you have better luck with your cars.

Thanks Blizzard, they look good.

jasonc wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:02 pm

Wonder if they tried a shifter reset - installing the battery backwards for a few minutes, then reinstall correctly. Of course a pce2 would be the best way to confirm

My initial thought was something to do with software or setup, but when I realised the lever completely lost its 'click' it's obviously mechanical. I'd say the switch just broke somewhere internally, so there'll be no fixing it with a software fix.

Blizzard - weirdly with my cars I'm the complete opposite! I've driven many absolute heaps over the years and none of my cars have ever let me down. Except for a 12-24 month period with my Mini when I broke absolutely everything on it, probably more to do with tripling the power output than anything else. Even that's reliable now (touch wood).

biker jk wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 8:25 pm

warthog1 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 5:41 pm

Tim wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2025 3:22 pm

Been there.
Pull the cable out. Tie a length of cotton securely to the end of the cable.
Feed the cable back in at the bottom bracket opening (I presume).
Suck the cotton out the end of the frame with a vacuum cleaner and gently pull/guide the cable through the hole.

I am pretty sure it feeds through plastic tubing inside the frame.
May give that a go or a small magnet on a wire. Thanks

Just use a good magnet to guide the gear cable through the opening. That's what I did.

Bingo! A strong magnet was what I went and got. Wasted time looking for one on a telescopic probe to go through the cable hole in the frame. Couldn't find one. Asked at Bunnings and the bloke showed me a wall stud finder magnet. Pretty bloody strong. Put that on the outside aspect of the chain stay near the hole. Out it came.

I'll add that to my Bunnings list warthog1. Not that I have anything with cables

jasonc wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 20, 2025 6:52 pm

I'll add that to my Bunnings list warthog1. Not that I have anything with cables

You lucky man!
I was contemplating 12 sp di2 upgrade but price soon scratched that idea

warthog1 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 20, 2025 6:55 pm

jasonc wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 20, 2025 6:52 pm

I'll add that to my Bunnings list warthog1. Not that I have anything with cables

You lucky man!
I was contemplating 12 sp di2 upgrade but price soon scratched that idea

Having something to run cables is still handy. You still have to run di2 cables with 12 speed

jasonc wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 20, 2025 9:15 pm

Having something to run cables is still handy. You still have to run di2 cables with 12 speed

Only have one di2 bike and it came built up. I like it though. Shifting is much better.
One day 12s shifters and derailleur may be affordable to upgrade the gravello.
Just bought a camper trailer and money is marching out the door on that and the 4wd at the moment.

warthog - i went 11 speed di2 on my gravel bike

jasonc wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 8:28 am

warthog - i went 11 speed di2 on my gravel bike

Even those bits are exxy. I just priced it and I already have some of the more expensive parts

MichaelB wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 8:43 am

jasonc wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 8:28 am

warthog - i went 11 speed di2 on my gravel bike

Even those bits are exxy. I just priced it and I already have some of the more expensive parts

i bought an r8070 groupset, then bought grx di2 derailleurs. the groupset came with a power meter crank so i sold that to recoup some costs.

Yeah I want 12s if I am going to do it on the gravelly. Use road wheels in it when I travel, just swap wheels for bitumen.
Just stupid $$ at the moment.

warthog1 wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 8:50 am

Yeah I want 12s if I am going to do it on the gravelly. Use road wheels in it when I travel, just swap wheels for bitumen.
Just stupid $$ at the moment.

Agree, even 2nd hand !!

I saw a 12 speed hydraulic Ultegra Di2 set secondhand for $1200 last week. Mind you I saw one for $4000 as well the week before.

Even after my brief Di2 experience with one broken shifter already I'm never getting a new mechanical groupset again. Unfortunately gravel bikes with Di2 groupsets are all ridiculously expensive!

Mr Purple wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 2:53 pm

Unfortunately gravel bikes with Di2 groupsets are all ridiculously expensive!

I wanted one with Di2, but worked out it would be cheaper to upgrade the wheels and groupset than buy what I wanted. Not much standard left on my bike - frame, fork, seat post and stem is all that's left (and am about to replace the bars with ones that are di2 bar end capable)