Rotor reveals first glimpse of its new Uno groupset. And it's hydraulic

Whatever niche this might have had over cable, is now eroded by electric/computer.  Hydraulic perhaps addresses cable play and fray, but so does electric/computer.  Electric/computer also has self adjustment, hydraulic doesn't.

Those who flock to newness will go directly for electric/computer bypassing hydraulic. The traditionalists, and the poor and hungry,  are unlikely to change from cable.

The window of opportunity for a generation of profit, if there was one, passed a decade ago.

With hydraulics you could make a push / pull system. Cable systems use cable pull and a spring return. The push / pull system could have the indexing mechanism in the rear derailleur, which is potentially more precise. I don't think they're doing this, because I can see a spring in the derailleur.

We'll be changing gear and braking by pure power of thought next. Now THAT would be quite something

Awesome.

Great to see an alternative system. Absolutely no point in trying to compete with Shimano going the traditional route, so why not?

If they can replicate the feel of an electronic system (ease of use, less pressure to change gear etc) with something reliable and without the need to charge it would be a great option for a touring bike.

I've got 10sp Di2 on one bike and 11sp 105 on another, very impressed by the new 105 groupset, but still love the Di2! It's when i'm completely dead on the bike (this happens depressingly often lol) that you appreciate the less effort required.

Calm down dear it just a group set ( sorry felt a bit Dave Cameron yuk!)

An American company was making a hydraulic shifting system in the early to mid 1990s and this was advertised as an upgrade which would retrofit existing shimano derailleurs.

If i remember correctly, there were issues with reliable indexing caused by differences in atmospheric pressure (weather and altitude), and the system eventually faded from the market place.

Would be interested to see how Magura / Rotor have overcome this, to allow indexing shifting which relies on a precise movement "per click" compared to 'open' diaphragm hydraulic disc brakes which do not have indexing but just apply increasing force to close the brake, with the diaphragm allowing expansion of fluid to compensate for heat as well as atmospheric pressure change?

This is the more recent "Acros" hydraulic shifting system, seen in 2011 but not really seen since:

Not sure that the link up with Magura is altogether brilliant. Their MTB forks don't have a continually solid reputation and I also had some excellent top end MTB brakes that four years later they simply stopped making maintenance elements for, and went almost instantaneously from apparently needing a bit of TLC to being in the bin.

Hydraulic brakes are better because they're self-adjusting (pads always set themselves at he minimal possible clearance relative to the braking surface). That ability also allows them to have greater mechanical advantage compared to mechanical brakes.

Greater mechanical advantage obviously wouldn't work for shifting. Unless they somehow incorporated self-adjusting into this thing, I don't really see the point.

The other advantage for Rotor is that hydraulics neatly get round the extensive patents owned by the big 3 (Shimano in particular) which provide pretty much insurmountable barriers to entry for any would be competitors. ...

Sounds interesting. My Aprilia had hydraulic gears and brakes. I bet on the smaller scale and with no engine heat to contend with it probably needs less bleeding on a bicycle.

Interesting innovation, and will be interesting to see how it tests.

I assume that this groupset would require frames made specially for it?

Hydraulics don't suffer ftom crap being pulled into the cable run..IIRC Magura uses a form of mineral oil in its brakes and motorcycle clutches, which unlike Dotxx fluid doesn't absorb moisture over time, which is the main reason for changing brake fluid AFAIA.

super innovation. can't wait to see it working

wonder if it will use a shared reservoir for gears and brakes?

"...Rotor reckons advantages of a fully hydraulic system are smooth activation, low maintenance and multiple shifting positions. Another significant benefit is the lack of batteries compared to current, and very popular, electronic groupsets..."

Sounds exactly like my current cable operated system

looks fugly

Whatever you might think of the potential of hydraulic shifting, it's a good thing for us customers.

Increased competition between manufacturers brings about reduced costs and better products.
Every person that opts for this groupset over something like Ultegra Di2 will make Shimano that little bit more willing to cut their prices in order to keep their market share.

I don't think that this new groupset is right for me, but I welcome it all the same.

Less maintenance?

IIRC hydraulic brakes need to bleed about each year to maintain its best performace.

Will it be needed for hydraulic derailleur too? If so, I'd consider it need more maintenance than cable one.

But anyway, this is an interesting one.

and a hydraulic system has the same advantage as an electric system in going round sharp corners. This looks like the first choice for a winter bike- no battery to run down.

and a hydraulic system has the same advantage as an electric system in going round sharp corners. This looks like the first choice for a winter bike- no battery to run down.

Never mind the hydraulics, what I object to is the bloody arty large aperture photography! I want to see all of the mech, rotor, not just part of it!

Hydraulics are more powerful, consistent and reliable than cable. Would you drive a car with cable operated brake, clutch, gear box? Most performance motorcycles have given up using cables too.

A steel cable in a steel wound housing may well be heavier than hydraulic hose with oil running through it.

It should be cheaper than electric shifting too.

Besides, more competition between manufacturers is good
for increasing choice and reducing cost. Whats not to like

replace a perfectly reliable, robust, lightweight and inexpensive mechanical system with...hydraulics? Every other category of machine is getting rid of hydraulics, except the bike industry, which sees an opportunity to con everybody into buying a new bike. The emperor may not be totally naked, but his get-up is very, very threadbare.