It also allows you to reverse the shift paddle if desired, enables you to set a ‘Get Me Home Gear’, and more.Īdaptability: Archer’s components can be used and customized to help adaptive riders. Also, destroying your Archer-actuated non-electric derailleur is going to be a lot less expensive than replacing an electronic model.Īpp functions: The Archer app collects ride data and can tell you how many times you’ve shifted gears and how far you’ve ridden (since it’s last reset). At the handlebar, your ‘shifter’ (now a remote) offers push-button action, which requires little effort as you’re not physically pulling a cable.Ĭost: Of course I mean ‘cost versus going fully electronic’ as Archer’s system is considerably cheaper than a complete AXS or Di2 system. Archer claims their shifter is very reliable once programmed, and shifts faster than a cable setup. Furthermore, they say it improves the feel and function of any derailleur, so you can enjoy top-level shifting performance from your mid or even entry-level components. The unique benefit of this is, if your derailleur gets a bit tweaked and starts skipping in certain gears, the D1x system can adjust gears individually so you can (potentially at least) correct the poor performance of slightly damaged derailleurs or bent hangers, before making a permanent fix at home.Ĭompatibility and performance gains: Archer’s system can turn any cable-actuated derailleur into an electronically shifted unit. Using either your phone or the handlebar remote, you can fine-tune any gear(s) during a trailside stop. On-the-fly adjustment: Yes, with tools on hand you can do this with a normal derailleur, but doing it electronically is fast and easy.

Also, this system eliminates the hassle of cable routing (particularly for internally routed frames). It’s easy to look at this system skeptically and ask “Why go electric if you still rely on a cable?” but it didn’t take the Archer crew long to convince me there are some legitimate advantages like…Įasy setup and adjustment: Imagine tuning your derailleur by pressing buttons on your phone! Of course you still have to get your B-tension and limit screws figured out as always, but beyond that any adjustments are definitely easy with Archer’s system. I’ve been riding it since then, and I agree there are some performance gains versus my old cable-pulled components… however I have some critiques about the system too. I met up with the guys from Archer in March, and they showed me how to set up the D1x shifter and their new MTB-friendly Paddle Remote on my bike. It sounds odd, but they’ve devised a way to make any cable-actuated derailleur upgradeable to electronic shifting, and claim their system provides improves shifting performance (along with other benefits). Electronic drivetrains aren’t new anymore, but not long ago Archer Components introduced an interesting new concept – an electronic shifting system that uses a short cable to pull your derailleur.

No House Limit by Steve Fisher