NAHBS 2010 – Ellis Cycles performed a disappearing act with Shimano’s Di2 shifting system on this steel road bike. Using Shimano’s new internal wiring system, Ellis Cycles’ founder Dave Wages managed to make the Di2 system virtually invisible on the fame, leaving admirers nothing to appreciate but the bike. Check out the magic, plus that Richard Petty inspired steel triathlon bike after the break…
Wiring from the shifters feeds directly into the frame just behind the headtube.
Brake lines are hidden, too, leaving no wires visible anywhere in the frame.
Wiring for the front derailleur pops out from within the braze-on mount. Keen observers will have noticed the apparent lack of a battery pack so far. Hmmm… where could it be?
The battery pack is mounted to a dedicated mount built onto the bottom of the non-driveside chainstay, and the wire feeds directly into the bottom bracket. The wiring for the rear derailleur runs inside the drive-side chainstay, pops out and runs through a small support ring.
Inspired by “The King,” this Ellis customer’s tri bike has a bold paint job and some subtle features. Almost outshone by the paint job, check out the polished chainstays and dropouts. The matching chrome fork exudes an era reminiscent of Richard Petty’s reign.
Here’s the “bi-laminate seat and head lubs. Notice the top tube is fillet brazed into the junction while the seat tube slots into a lug.
