Well, we had a feeling it was coming (actually truth be told, I knew last week) but I got the official email from Shimano North America today announcing the official cancellation of the forth(never)coming computer model SC-7900, which would have been the latest gen of Flight Deck computer system to fit the newest 7900 & 6700 component systems from Shimano. The question is, why?
Well, rumors abound as to the exact reason(s), with some hypotheses ranging from by the time it actually came to market and was on the shelves, the technology would have already been obsolete--which doesn't seem to be that much of a stretch considering the innovative leaps and bounds companies such as Garmin, Powertap, SRM, Specialized, and Trek have made in having computers [and/or powermeters or GPS] that all connect wirelessly through the open ANT+ platform, to the #2 reason could be that Shimano wasn't totally happy w/ the design [see previous point], and the company is aware of the growing popularity of powermeters--which begs the question that, considering one cannot put a Powertap hub into a Shimano rim [well it could be done, but not easily, you'd have to fabricate your own spokes], maybe it's the next thing on the horizon for Shimano to integrate--power measuring capabilities in a hub of their design, or elsewhere? Think Metrigear and pedals?
Who knows, don't know, can only guess, all I know is that we haven't even begun to se what technology can do in earnest from a data standpoint. Just think about the notion of having power measuring and wireless transmittable data sent from the custom footbeds in your cycling shoes. Think it's too far fetched? Think again, I've seen the proto. It's coming. Now it's just hurry up and wait.
