The future is wireless. Well, it’s certainly easy to think so with nearly every component heading in this direction. Binning the cables in favour of Bluetooth and batteries is not bad either, as there are several benefits, but regular old cables still valiantly fight their corner. Here are some pros and cons of each in certain areas around the bike.

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There are pros and cons of cables and wireless systems in drivetrains

Electronic components were first found within drivetrains and, notably, the derailleur. Rather than using a combination of cable and spring tension to manually pull or release a mech over a cassette, a servo and Bluetooth have become commonplace. That’s mainly found on SRAM’s AXS drivetrains and Shimano’s Di2 options, although brands like TRP are bringing their own wireless trickery to the market.

2024 sram gx t-type 3.jpg, by Liam Mercer

With these drivetrains come some very serious advantages, and they mostly lie in the fact that they eliminate one point of wear - the gear cable (or cables if you’re running a 2x setup). Over time, cables stretch and can snap. The former leads to sloppy, inaccurate, and slow shifting, whereas the latter results in no shifting at all. Removing this variable from the process brings more reliable and consistent shifting to the show in a drivetrain that requires less frequent adjustment, unless you’ve bent a mech hanger.

There’s also a bit of joy to be found in merely pressing a button to achieve a shift. Tap, zip, shift, and you’re in a new gear. It simply takes less effort and strength to press a button when it comes time to initiate a shift.

The drawback - batteries. They need charging, they need to be in place for the component to work, and they present more to go wrong with an otherwise simple drivetrain. That’s ignoring the fact that these systems use radio waves in order for the shifter to communicate with the mech and an app. Things can get pretty complicated.

2024 boardman mtr mech.jpg, by Liam Mercer

Many prefer the simplicity of cables, and there’s definitely nothing wrong with that. They’re inexpensive to repair should they break, and they’re easy to adjust with only a little bit of know-how. Between the two, there’s little to set the quality of the shift apart, either. And there’s nothing quite like absent-mindedly grabbing a bike and going for a spin, which isn’t something you can do as casually when there’s a battery in the mix.

I’m yet to be convinced of wireless dropper posts

Wireless dropper posts bring the same benefits that drivetrains do - there’s no cable and the easy push of a button to actuate the post reliably and consistently. That’s as well as the downsides that a battery brings. But mostly, the benefit they bring is a tidier cockpit. 

2024 Fox Live Valve neo dropper full.jpg, by Liam Mercer

Typically, wireless dropper posts have a taller stack than regular alternatives (that’s the distance between the lower of the seat post’s collar to the rails). The taller stacks come as a result of the packaging of the battery; it needs to go somewhere after all that’s easily accessible, and all brands so far have chosen to place their battery externally. Because of that distance being greater than a bunch of cable-operated droppers, riders can’t squeeze quite as much travel into their droppers if they choose to go wireless. However, with modern bikes receiving shorter seat tubes, that’s not quite as serious an issue. But compound that with comparatively longer insertion depths rife on most wireless droppers, and that is a significant downside to consider.

Speaking of travel, there are simply not as many options on the market. Despite RockShox unveiling the latest Reverb AXS at a whopping 250mm, which is the longest-travelled dropper around, wireless options from Fox, KS, and Magura simply aren’t as long, at least for now.

2023 wolf tooth resolve dropper compact.jpg, by Liam Mercer

As for mechanically actuated dropper posts, they aren’t as demanding on their cables as drivetrains are, due to the fact that they’re not pulling as much cable and winding it into a shifter, and a dropper post isn’t being actuated as frequently. Thus, a dropper post’s cable will last longer, and the argument of a battery-operated wireless dropper post from an all-out durability standpoint is negated a little.

Suspension adjustment is where wireless comes into its own

With cable-actuated suspension lockouts, there are either two or three settings to flick through - open and closed on a two-position setup, or a three-position open, a ‘trail’ setting, and closed. Those settings can then only be selected manually by pressing or releasing a bar-mounted lever. And that’s all well and good for some who want to dictate how their suspension is working during specific situations.

Orbea Oiz M21 Squidlock.jpg, by Matthew Page

Going wireless for suspension adjustment has opened a wormhole into a new realm of suspension trickery - on-the-fly adjustment. Systems like RockShox’s Flight Attendant or Fox’s Live Valve Neo flick through compression settings without the rider even having to think about it. Rolling through a technical section before a snappy climb? There’s no need to wrench on a grip-shift style Twist-Loc, or fumble for the correct lever - these systems do the job for you.

2024 Fox Live Valve neo full 1.jpg, by Liam Mercer

In the interest of maximum efficiency, these systems are built to adjust the suspension incredibly quickly, switching compression settings from open to closed after sensing bumps, gradients, and speed. Not only does this make the bike and suspension more efficient when pedalling, but it can also firm up the suspension when pumping the terrain, eking out every possible speed boost. That’s all while remaining plush, sensitive, and traction-rich when the going gets tough.

2024 rockshox flight attendant fork.jpg, by Liam Mercer

These systems are very costly, however, and they bring even more batteries to the party. They also require more setup and increase the possibility of something going wrong.

Batteries need charging, cables don’t

With all of that in mind, we can go right down to basics, and the main drawbacks of batteries are that they need charging, and that they’re an often removable but very vital part of any wirelessly actuated component. So they’re easy to forget if you’re anything like me.

To start, anyone who uses a wireless anything will know the pain of being stuck out in the sticks with a dead battery, and with wireless kit, there’s not really a good compromise get-me-home setting. Granted, you’ll have to be well prepared, but if a gear cable were to snap, you could bodge the mech into a usable gear to get yourself home - that’s not exactly possible with a wireless drivetrain.

There’s then a real sense of liberation within the grab-and-go nature of cables. You can take your bike and ride it with the comfort of knowing that you’ve not forgotten to charge your batteries. There’s only the risk of snapping a cable. Naturally, this isn’t quite the case with e-bikes as they rely on a charge to work.

However, it gets worse. Unfortunately, even with the best intentions, it’s remarkably easy to either forget to charge a battery or forget the battery altogether. If you drive hours to get to your riding spot, learning that you’ve forgotten your battery upon arrival only results in apocalyptic-level sadness.

Additionally, batteries have a service life of only so many charge cycles after which, they’ll need replacing. They are easier to replace than cables, but they’re more expensive, with SRAM’s AXS batteries costing £56 a pop, and Fox’s Neo costing £100. Then, batteries aren’t all that kind to the environment. The raw materials need to be mined, and the manufacturing demands a lot of energy. That’s before they’re disposed of, which is another story altogether.

Although cables wear and can snap, they’re always on your bike, and you’ll never forget them. Their impact on the environment isn’t as harsh, either. But for all of their pros and cons, neither system is completely foolproof. The hassle-free nature of wireless components is a real draw in its own right, but many prefer the availability and ease of service that come with cables. As with anything in cycling, not one system is perfect for everyone.

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