Way back in the spring of 2012, Geoff Kabush’s Scott Spark revealed the first look at the Shimano/Fox electronic integration, using a Di2 battery to power the iCD lockouts for both fork and shock. At that time, it was pure prototype. Things got official the following April with Fox’s formal introduction, which was preceded by a second look at Kabush’s bike.
Now, the 3Rox team continues to tweak their electronic lockout set up with the new internal Shimano “seatpost” battery. Except they didn’t stick it in the seatpost…
On the original set up, they used Shimano’s water bottle mount battery mount to place the power source just in front of the bottom bracket.
Now, according to team mechanics, it’s stuffed into the top tube through the head tube openings. The battery’s wrapped in bubble wrap, which is zip tied around it with the tie ends left intact to act as additional “springs” to help keep it in place. They said you can only do this with the carbon frames since their head tubes are usually comolded with the top and down tubes and have the requisite large openings leading into those tubes.
It certainly makes for a much cleaner install, protects the battery and likely saves a few grams. The nice thing about this hack is anyone can do it to just about any carbon frame, regardless of seatpost or seat tube compatibility.
It’s all controlled by the very elegant iCD switch next to the grip. No doubt it’ll also be a great way to power any future Di2 mountain bike groups, which the Internet says is coming.
Like this hack? Check out this one from Alex’s Bicycle Pro Shop.
