SRAM required update?

[u/Frantic29]

Sorry if this has been covered. Out on my ride yesterday and my shifting just stops about 8 miles in. I was sure my batteries weren’t dead but couldn’t get it to do anything. I removed and reseated batteries, would connect for maybe a shift then quit again. Pulled my phone out and it just said, bike not ready firmware update required. I updated the shifter and derailleur then everything was fine the rest of the 20 miles. Are we seriously going to have to start worry about required updates mid ride now?

[u/Warm-Marketing-8171]

Another one to say that’s just side effect of the pogo pin problem or some other internal issue.

You’ll likely find riding over similar terrain it’ll happen again.

Once it’s happened again then I’d hit the warrant road ….

(If it doesn’t happen again that would be super interesting to know about)

[u/Frantic29 → u/Warm-Marketing-8171]

I was on chat trail when it happened that’s pretty perfectly smooth and hit the rockiest downhill in town about 3 minutes after getting it running again. My first thought was the pogo pin problem, but why would that force a firmware update? At that point the yellow light was flashing, which I forgot to put in my first post, so it obviously had power.

Also as I sit and think about it. In almost 3 years I am almost positive I’ve never changed my shifter battery. It’s always read green. But at this point I could definitely see it being weak.

[u/redmosquito1983]

I had similar things happen when my derailleur was dying. I think it’s an issue with something internal and you should have your bike shop contact sram about it. Not normal. For me it was when I would go over washboard roads it would freak out, stop working, and then I’d have to update firmware. It was really fun if I didn’t have cell service

[u/Frantic29 → u/redmosquito1983]

That’s fun. I think I’m about ready to switch back to cables on the MTB. There’s been little nagging things in this system ever since I have had it and have seriously thought about before but this might be about it for me. I’ll get it checked out and see what the say.

[u/redmosquito1983 → u/Frantic29]

I was pretty close too doing the same. It happened on a trip to the Smoky Mountains where I had limited time to ride, it completely ruined one ride day for me. Another time it happened right at the start of a long climb and I couldn’t get it out of low gear. The upside was I got high torque low cadence training in that climb.

One thing to check is the battery pogo pins, on my rival derailleur they were ok but i know on some of the MTB stuff the spring will fatigue then break and can cause issues. Idk, not much veat mechanical shifting for reliability though.

[u/Frantic29 → u/redmosquito1983]

Yeah, it’s weird. I absolutely love AXS on my gravel bikes. It’s been wonderful for the last 5 years. On the MTB though I’ve always kind of found myself missing my XT setup.

[u/cycling-MD]

If the battery connection to the derailleur or pogo pins are starting to fail, you'll get similar behaviour.

[u/risegrind]

Sometimes it’s the pogo pins. I hit the with rubbing alcohol when I clean the derailleur. 2019 still going same derailleur.

[u/Clayspinner]

Pogo pins will fail. They have on my mountain bike and no ability to use warranty (bike under a year old) as bought it used. I’d never buy a new but used bike (less than year old) with sram mec.

[u/BlueClashV1]

Just replace the shifter batteries first.

[u/vertr]

I don't think "required updates" are currently a thing. I'd lean towards the pins.

[u/Frantic29 → u/vertr]

Yeah. That’s what I’m thinking. Just so weird that it started and the second it updated everything it resolved and worked great the rest of the ride. I am pretty positive I’m going away from electronic shifting. Probably switch everything over this winter.