29 November, 2023
The future of shifting
The E-EDR is the enduro world cup for electric bikes.
These races have some of the most challenging circuits for riders and teams, with timed downhills and special Power Stages with tough climbs.
One such technology is Shimano´s automatic shifting. There are two separate technologies here, AUTO SHIFT and FREE SHIFT, which do pretty much what they sound like.
Via Shimano´s E-TUBE app, it is possible to tune the desired cadence and how reactive the shifting is to the pressure on the pedals. The feedback from the riders has been very positive, rating this as a game-changer for some races.
On timed descents, the FREE SHIFT technology lets riders select the correct gear without pedalling, allowing them to sprint out of the corners or attack the short climbs on these stages.
The beauty of this is that it enables riders to keep their hands on the grips and concentrate on line choices.
Setting up the system was a matter of tuning the climbing response, i.e., how readily the system wants to change in response to the pressure through the pedals, to match the power that Damien and Gabi are putting down in race situations.
Even for race situations, Damien and Gabi found that the app offers all the necessary tunability. Of course, the beauty of the system is that, even in the fully automatic mode, riders can shift manually any time they want.
On the power stages, the feedback was also really positive. The system reacts to maintain the chosen cadence, letting riders concentrate on the climbs.
I would even say that I have more power because I can hold the handlebars with my full hand, which allows me to pull harder on the handlebars and concentrate on the lines.
– Damien Oton
What was impressive was how well the LINKGLIDE cassette and chains coped with shifting under full power, with smooth shifting and improved durability in these extreme conditions.
The advantages in race situations are notable, with riders able to put down more power and concentrate on their lines. It is easy to set up the system through the app and tune it to each rider´s preferences.
Rise M-Team
Choose the M-Team model if you want a RISE with Shimano’s FREE SHIFT.