Before the start Tour California Road Bike Action was invited to the Columbia-Highroad team camp in Solvang, California to take an exclusive look at George Hincapie’s Tour of California race bike. Just moments after Hincapie completed a three-hour rain-soaked training ride, we got a close up look at George Hincapie’s 2009 Scott Addict with Shimano’s Dura Ace Di2 electronic shifting.

For 2009, the Columbia-HighRoad team is riding carbon fiber Scott Addicts that are constructed using Scott’s Integrated Molding Process (IMP) and feature an integrated seatmast. Columbia is sponsored by PRO components that supply the Vibe S7 handlebars and Vibe S7 stem. A Fi'zi:k saddle completes the cockpit on Hincapie’s bike. Along with Shimano’s Di2 group, Hincapie is also running a wireless SRM PowerMeter. Unlike most professional teams, Columbia riders have their choice of wheels. For racing, Hincapie has chosen to run Highroad labeled Zipp wheels with Continental tubular tires. For the majority of races Hincapie will ride a Zipp 808 rear combined with a 404 front (A 606 combination).

The aspect of Hincapie’s bike that really caught our attention was the Dura Ace Di2 electric components. The Di2 debuted last year and is on four Team Columbia bikes.  The Di2 ergonomics are slimmed down for a more comfortable grip and feature buttons instead of shift leavers. Conventional shift cables are replaced with wires, while the operating computer is housed in the front derailleur. A small battery pack is mounted to the down tube just below the water bottle cage. Attached to the stem is a small black rectangle that houses a battery life indicator. If the battery runs low the front shifter will shut down first, allowing Hincapie to continue to use the rear cluster.

By using unidirectional carbon fiber brake lever blades and eliminating all of the mechanical shifter parts, the new Dual Control lever weight is reduced by over 155-grams over the mechanical version. The ergonomics are slimmed down and further refined for a comfortable grip.

PRO provides Hincapie's stem and handlebar setup. Attached to the stem is a small black rectangle that houses a battery life indicator.

The 7.4V, Lithium Ion battery is designed to deliver reliable, long life even in the worst conditions. In conditions requiring consistent and frequent shifting, the battery is capable of 1000 kilometers of use. The battery is rechargeable and comes with a mount that easily adapts to most bikes. Lithium Ion technology is lighter, more compact and better performing than other power sources, making it a clear choice for Di2.

The front derailleur is the “brains” of the system. The integrated ultra-compact CPU not only ensures that shifting is perfect for both the front and rear derailleurs individually, but also by monitoring the position of each, creates a front derailleur that tracks the chain and requires zero manual trim without sacrificing any shifting speed. The front derailleur logic also performs the inward shift from the big chainring in two parts to eliminate chain drop, with both actions measured in fractions of a second.

Like the 7900 mechanical derailleur, the 7970 has a new carbon fiber rear pulley cage and the new design is compatible with wider range cogsets, accommodating up to a 27 tooth cog. The differences are the fact that the unit is now driven by a servo motor instead of a cable and spring, so shifts are identical and precise every time as the computer control unit analyzes each shift.

The derailleur has a built in mechanism that will allow the body to move inward under impact to reduce the potential for damage in the case of a crash. Cycling through the shifting a couple of times allows the shifter and rear derailleur to automatically re-synchronize.