Want to Win a Bike Race? Hack Your Rival’s Wireless Shifters
Researchers discovered a technique that would allow anyone with a few hundred dollars to hack into wireless gear-shifting systems used by top cycling teams at events like the Tour de France.
What a world we live in. Why on earth would you want these kinds of shifters in the first place? Seems like an easy thing to malfunction.
Easier indexing.
Ability to trim each gear independently.
Fine tuning so at each extreme on the cassette you don't get chain rub on a front deraileur.
Faster gear changes.
No cables to stretch and also to give a cleaner look to the bike itself.
Ability to mount the "shifters" wherever you like.
Ability to run a wide range of different cassettes rather than just 11 speed for example.
I'm with you in that it isn't something I personally can see myself ever wanting and there are also many downsides such as the possibility of running out of battery, electrical malfunction etc. But there are many perfectly valid reasons for wanting the tech as well.
A bike is an easy thing to malfunction, we should just walk.
