Many may argue whether or not you really need electronic shifting and hydraulic disc brakes on road bikes, but after riding bikes equipped with the newfangled technology, we'd have a hard time going back to shifting and braking systems that rely on cable tension and slack to achieve its actuation. Digital shifting and hydraulic braking are so much more precise, powerful, and perhaps even more importantly, it's reliable and doesn't require constant adjustments. Take those components and build them up under the Ultegra moniker and it screams value and performance, really only giving up a slight weight penalty to Dura-Ace through the use of less exotic materials. Indeed, Ultegra borrows heavily from its top-tier Dura-Ace group and if you're looking for an upgrade or building up a bike and can't go full carte blanche, the Ultegra Di2 ST-R8070 Shifters & Disc Brake Caliper Set is a terrific option that honestly offers the majority of us everything we need. Using electronic shifters has another benefit when paired with hydro brakes, it takes up much less space than mechanical bits so the hoods are much more compact and lower profile and that's where we spend most of our time riding. The new rubber compound and tread used on the hoods is also designed to reduce vibration and improve grip, with or without gloves on, and sweaty hands refuse to slip while climbing out of the saddle or on rainy rides. The screw reach adjustment easily places the brake levers just where you need them for comfort and maximum control. The shift buttons are now easier to reach from the hoods and in the drops and have a more positive click and are more distinguishable between upshift and downshift than previous versions. What we love most about Di2 is that shifting feels akin to clicking a mouse, only requiring about 2mm of movement. This requires much less focus and effort, especially for front shifting, so you can concentrate on riding and responding to attacks and not on executing the p...