Imagine a shifting system that never needs new cables, that never goes out of adjustment because the housing wore out and split, and that provided perfect shifting everytime from not one, not two, but three different shifter locations. 

Well, Mavic's already done the imagining for you. It was the first big intro of Interbike, and frankly, it might just be the coolest thing we see all weekend. 

Called Mektronic, what you see here is a fully electronic shifting system. Yeah, all us jaded roadies say, what about ZAP? Not as in Zap Espinoza, the illustrious editor of Mountain Bike magazine, but Mavic's first-generation ZAP electronic shifting, which proved heavy, vulnerable to the elements and difficult to service and adjust? 

If we can be so bold as to call Mektronic "ZAP, Part II" it would seem that Mavic has done their homework on this one. 

The system, which will hit stores around March of 1999 and cost roughly $750 retail is a pair of integrated brake lever/shifters, rear derailleur and a computer. 

A fully integrated system, it also differs from ZAP in that it is a fully wireless system. No wires, three batteries, and easy to set up and maintain. The system uses coded "messages" that are sent when the shifter toggles are activated, shifting the rear derailleur through the cogs.
 

Mavic's new Mektronic shifting system is fully wireless.

The system's core are the shifters, seen here. Combining elements of STI or ErgoPower and Spinaci-type extensions, the strange-looking levers are remarkably ergonomic.  Two shifting positions are afforded, one on the end of the hood and one tucked into the lever body. Both are touch-sensitive, meaning that in order to shift to a lower gear (up the cogset) you toggle the button up, and vice versa. Mavic had a test version on site set up on rollers, and we were able to check out firsthand the peculiarities of the system. First off we would note the extremely functional ergonomics of the levers.

They offer two exceptionally comfy hand positions, and as you can see from the first photo the lever body has been altered to afford maximum braking power from the "on the hoods" position. Both shifter pods are easily accessible and offer a second-nature sort of control. 

Perhaps the finest function is the computer that is the heart of the system. With an optical display of functions ranging from gearing to current speed and other cyclocomputer functions, the new Mavic system makes Shimano's Flight Deck like comparing the latest Duke Nukem game to Pong. 

The power source is simple: three 3-volt watch batteries, available at pretty much any store from Ralph's grocery to Radio Shack, and battery life on the units is rated at, get this, 2-3 years. Mavic is also working on a unit that will troubleshoot powersource problems in the system, available to the consumer. 

As far as pro testing goes, the French Credit Agricole team (formerly Gan) will be testing the system this fall, but due to UCI regulations, we won't see the unit in competition until spring of '99. Mavic is said to be pursuing other pro teams, and we've heard Saeco linked to the company as a possible partner. 

With riders like Stuart O'Grady and Fred Moncassin, a spring Classics win for Credit Agricole is very much a possibility. Paris-Roubaix? It would certainly validate the system. 

We've got ongoing coverage of the show all weekend, so check back here for more updates and info from the bike industry's annual Tupperware party, as well as our ongoing coverage of the Tour of Spain.
 

This excerpt comes direct from VeloNews Online magazine.
http://www.greatoutdoors.com/velonews/
 

Mavic brings Metronic to Interbike Following its debut last week in Germany, Mavic showed the North American crowd its newest electric mechanical shifting.

The shift button mounts near the thumb on the hoods (see photos), while alternate buttons can be added for aero' bars, or other positions on the top of the bars.