In our Tech Q&A series, we tackle cycling queries – big or small, complex or simple – with insights from the BikeRadar team and trusted industry experts. Next up, a reader wants to know if it’s worth upgrading to an electronic groupset on his trusty Boardman road bike.
I have a Boardman GP Carbon with rim brakes and 60mm-deep Planet X wheels. I’m middle-aged and do a few long charity rides such as London to Brighton and 60- to 70-mile local events.
Can Shimano Di2 electronic gears be fitted to my bike, and would I gain anything from converting?
Andrew Matthews, via email
We couldn’t find a Boardman GP Carbon model – we suspect you might have a Boardman Pro Carbon, but we’ll give you some broad advice on this area to be on the safe side.
Shimano’s current road electronic groupsets are all either fully wired or semi-wireless – only its new XTR, XT and Deore mountain bike groupsets and GRX gravel groupsets come in wireless options.
Your bike will need to have internal cable routing (which we suspect it likely does), so the Di2 wire can run from the battery that’s in the seat tube to the front and rear derailleurs.
Alternatively, it is possible to mount the battery externally, but this looks rather messy.
If your bike has external cable routing, you might want to consider opting for a wireless groupset instead, such as one of SRAM’s AXS options. However, bear in mind you’ll also likely need a new freehub for your wheels (if one’s available) because most SRAM cassettes (except for the original Red eTap and Apex AXS XPLR) use the brand’s XD standard.
In terms of performance gains, senior technical writer Simon von Bromley reckons an electronic groupset isn’t going to make you any faster. However, he admits the shifting feels great and the fact that you don’t need to worry about the condition of your bike’s cables or replace them is a nice benefit (but remember to keep it charged).
If you’re looking for performance gains, an electronic groupset isn’t the place to look – wheels and tyres would be the place to upgrade.
Digital editor Jack Luke is a staunch advocate of mechanical groupsets – he thinks the shifting feels fantastic and most modern systems don’t require that much maintenance. Upgrading or refreshing your existing mechanical groupset might be a more affordable option.
