"The results are in, and although the sample size for this poll isn't as deep as we would have liked, it still shows that many riders still prefer mechanical MTB drivetrains over wireless and electronic ones. In October, we published an article in defense of the mechanical derailleur in the lead-up to the review of the industry-leading Madrone Cycles Jab. As it turns out, most riders are still dedicated to the familiarity and reliability of mechanical shifting, with over 80% of votes in favor of mechanical derailleurs. Results that we can fully understand."
"Takeaway Thankfully, many of you took to the comments to voice your opinions on the use of mechanical drivetrains, which are hard to ignore. With one commenter stating: "I know how to fix mechanical stuff, electronic stuff I don't - which means paying somebody to do it for me, nuff said...." A point hard to argue with. But that isn't the only strong point for mechanical, and another commentator wrote: "After a few rides trying to find service to do a FIRMWARE UPDATE ON MY DERAILLEUR, I went back to mechanical and have never looked back. Multiple AXS going out to pogo issues was a pain, but man, doing a Firmware update mid-ride to fix my shifting was one of the dumbest things. It's just unnecessary when a cable and housing work perfectly.""
A poll of 773 riders showed 86% (665 votes) still use mechanical drivetrain components, 8% (62 votes) do not, and 6% (46 votes) use mechanical but want to switch to wireless. Many riders cite familiarity, reliability, and the ability to perform field repairs as reasons for sticking with mechanical derailleurs. Several commenters reported firmware and electronic failures, costly professional service needs, and mid-ride issues with wireless systems. The poll sample size is noted as limited, but the results indicate a strong respondent preference for tactile cable-actuated shifting and straightforward maintenance.
Read at BikeMag
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