lobular wrote:The 'clean lines' of the no-cable Etap will be offset by the monstrous front and rear derailluers.....they are big and not pretty.....SR is definitely the way to go for that build. Upgrade to Etap in a few years when they have reduced the size of the batteries.
Hahaha.. Have you seen DI2? assuming yes, of course. Cause the front derailleurs are exactly the same, and while the Shimano rear derailleur is more svelt, they are really not that far off. Except for the fact that sram has NO cables, and you don't have to put a stupid huge battery in your seatpost. Common people, stop being such luddites in your comments. If you don't like it, fine - but appreciate it for what it is - a major advancement in the technology. There is no question that shimano will go wireless now. And then everything will start evolving again.
You all sound like the people who said smart phones were stupid (not referring to lobular's post here, just the thread in general..)..
Anyway, to the OP - This is such a tough call. I'm all for the all italian bike (being italian myself). I'd wrestle with this one also. When it comes down to it, i highly doubt you would go etap and then wish you had gone SR - it's the newest tech, and shifts so well. You may however go SR and wish you went etap. If it makes sense, do an beautiful italian cockpit from deda superleggero/leggera.