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Main benefit IMHO is giving you multiple shifting positions: I had STIs, aerobar ends and one on my bar top by the stem (for the right side only). But it also saves you from stiff front shifts which can become a pain over time.
Main issue is that it needs regular charging, but you can do it on the go (from AA batteries if need be, or battery pack, dynamo, etc) or overnight, so not a big issue.
Total failure is pretty rare. Of course if it stops working you've got to HTFU, select your preferred gear and make the best of it! I had to singlespeed for an hour in France on a cold morning while I waited for it to warm up so I could set mine up to recharge.
I know nothing about solid tyres (other than that they don't sound very comfortable). But most people don't get many punctures as, on the whole, the roads are pretty good. It's only when people end up on off-road adventures that the puncture counts increase.
I got 3 punctures and considered myself unlucky. I think @hippy didn't get any, despite going exploring a few rough trails.
frank9755-
Thanks for that. Interesting about electronic gears.
The reason why solid tyres would interest me is that they would first reduce what one has to carry (not just on the TCR but also a trip to the shops) as well as, possibly more importantly, giving some added confidence in tackling crap road conditions.
I understand that those currently available are comfortable (you can get them in different hardnesses to the equivalent of different pressures on normal tyres.) The only problem apparently is cornering. This is sufficient to stop me using them but if this were overcome, I could see them as very attractive.
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regular charging
I only remember throwing mine on the charger once, there might've been a brief second attempt in a hotel later in the race. I'm running it down now because I've never actually experienced what happens when it does go flat...
Di2 is great for travel too - much quicker to unplug a di2 cable and remove a derailler or quickly remove aerobars for packing.
I would love to have a smaller charger (or a bigger battery) but that's a nice to have - not many people race their bikes for 4000k!
It definitely removes hand fatigue which I have had riding/racing cabled bikes during 24hrs or audax. This was the first time I've used road Di2 and the first time I've used hydraulic road discs and once I'd set them up they were both lovely and unless there's a specific reason I can't use them I will likely have them on my bikes going forward.
cliveo
hippy
The one I find particularly interesting is electronic shifting. Isn't this just something more to go wrong and be difficult to fix?
The other thought is about solid tyres. There are some that are apparently pretty good. Might these be worth considering in a few years when issues with them have been ironed out?