2021 Creo Road Remote?

Sorry, didn't get a part number. Not sure why one was covered and one wasn't. I quite like the covered look and it looks good, stealthy, but may be the other one they weren't able to cover it without having the button in a permanent depressed mode for some reason. The earlier photos provide by RobertOk on a new bike indicate they typically come covered.
 
I would think the covered button, (up and down rocker style?) would be very hard to feel with it under the bar tape and if the wearer had full fingered gloves on.
 
It comprises two buttons - one is up and the other is down. So I have one under each grip.

I went for power down on the left and power up on the right as that seemed logical to me relative to the TDU. The guy who put it in the day before went the other way, which apparently seems more logical to some, LBS tried to explain it, something to do with how you change gears if you have a 2x but I didn't really get it.

If you have big enough hands you might be able to put both on one side, and maybe that is what the other guy did - kind of replicating a front derailer?
 
I actually don’t mind the button being exposed as there would be a more tangible feel to it. That being said, the stealthy alternative is pretty cool.

Left = Lower
Right = Raise

^^ One way to help remember the hand position of each remote.
 
To me right for up and left for down makes sense too. I wonder if the personal preference depends on whether the rider is right or left handed......
 
Seems we’re sort of preconditioned for that... gas is to the right, brake to the left in the car, and if you have paddle shifters like so many new cars do, same thing... up to the right, down to the left.
 
The location of the buttons would be key for me as my hands aren't that large. A spot tucked under the lever hoods might work better as my thumbs can easily reach down from that position. Most of the time I find myself riding with hands on the hoods as opposed to in the drop zone.
Remote Button.jpg
 
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Short report: Buy them.

Having just come back from a 100k ride (first time I've done that in close to 15 years I suspect) it makes a significant difference. You can use them just like you had a front gear, ability to go from eco to sport and back down to eco without having to cycle through turbo is great. makes for a much smoother transition as well, and no more taking hand off the handlebar when wanting a power boost whilst heading up a hill.

Just as easy to use as if they are covered or uncovered. Uncovered is slightly easier to find but doesn't take long to remember where they are. Buttons worked well where I had them, I spend just about all my time on the hoods.

I have no idea of what these cost in US, but NZ$110 (including a 15% sales tax) equivalent in US is US$73. Based on other things I imagine they are cheaper in the US, but even at that price no hesitation in recommending.

For what they probably cost to make (they are not complicated) Specialised should consider giving all those with last year's CREO free buttons if we go into the LBS and get them installed. Makes for a much better and much safer experience.
 
Nice to read such a resounding review. Can't wait to try them out and hope that the dealer here can get his mitts on a set. It's a bit of a moot point now that the snow is flying here. Btw, in 2007 my wife and I spent three weeks in your homeland and cycling there would be a dream come true.
 
Nice to read such a resounding review. Can't wait to try them out and hope that the dealer here can get his mitts on a set. It's a bit of a moot point now that the snow is flying here. Btw, in 2007 my wife and I spent three weeks in your homeland and cycling there would be a dream come true.
Would be great if Specialized collaborated with Garmin so you could use Garmin touch screen to switch modes rather than adding more unneeded stuff to your bike. Love my Creo but seems like Specialized is behind the game when making Mission Control and Garmin integration easier to use and understand.
 
Thank you for your kind words. Unfortunately we are at the moment basically a quarantine island with a population of 5m, so it's very difficult for us to leave and others to come in - albeit life is pretty much back to normal now other than no overseas travelling - and definitely worse places to be. Since 2007 there have been a lot of bike trails added thoughout the country.
 
Would be great if Specialized collaborated with Garmin so you could use Garmin touch screen to switch modes rather than adding more unneeded stuff to your bike. Love my Creo but seems like Specialized is behind the game when making Mission Control and Garmin integration easier to use and understand.
I see your point. Even though I have the Mission Control App on my phone, like you, I use my Garmin exclusively along with Varia when riding plus a phone is not something I would consider mounting to the bars. As for controlling the remotes via the Garmin, I'm not sure that is a feature that I would use but wouldn't be opposed if it was somehow added. Personally, I much prefer the simple motion of pushing a button to change the TCU settings rather than having to navigate through a device.
 
Personally, I much prefer the simple motion of pushing a button to change the TCU settings rather than having to navigate through a device.

Agree. I feel like the whole point of having the buttons is so you can change settings without taking your hands off the bars while moving at speed. I don't see how changing settings on a bike computer would be preferable to changing those settings on the TCU unit itself. And if you have to navigate through menus to do it on the bike computer, then I think it would actually be worse in terms of safety.
 
Agree. I feel like the whole point of having the buttons is so you can change settings without taking your hands off the bars while moving at speed. I don't see how changing settings on a bike computer would be preferable to changing those settings on the TCU unit itself. And if you have to navigate through menus to do it on the bike computer, then I think it would actually be worse in terms of safety.
Garmin 1030 has a big touch screen. You just lightly tap it and things happen, rather than trying to find the small TCU button on your top tube and pressing it with the right amount of pressure to make it work. And the Garmin is located on the front of the bars so you can keep looking more or less ahead rather than looking down at the TCU.
 
Garmin 1030 has a big touch screen. You just lightly tap it and things happen, rather than trying to find the small TCU button on your top tube and pressing it with the right amount of pressure to make it work. And the Garmin is located on the front of the bars so you can keep looking more or less ahead rather than looking down at the TCU.
The whole point of the buttons is to place them by the control levers so your not looking down nor are you taking hands off bars to reach for Garmin screen. In neither case are you looking down at TCU but in case of buttons you aren’t even reaching for your Garmin. Much better solution IMO.
 
Garmin 1030 has a big touch screen. You just lightly tap it and things happen, rather than trying to find the small TCU button on your top tube and pressing it with the right amount of pressure to make it work. And the Garmin is located on the front of the bars so you can keep looking more or less ahead rather than looking down at the TCU.
I use an Edge 520 which doesn’t employ a touch screen display. Even if it did, I’m not so sure if/when integration with Creo's remote will occur. Call me old fashioned but I still prefer having the buttons within easy reach rather than have to glance down at my device which I do too often already. ;)
 
Here are a couple remote install photos with them under the hoods as well as what looks to be a marketing photo. Both very clean install locations. Also packaging with part number for those looking for them.
 

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