Campagnolo - Any point?

[King Boonen]

So, I'm looking for a road bike to commute on. I'll probably get one from Ribble Cycles which means I have a choice between Campagnolo and Shimano.

My question is should I go for Campagnolo?

My mountain bike runs 10 speed Shimano gears, it does seem very sensible to stick with Shimano as the parts are then interchangeable in case of emergencies and it means no extra tools etc. I can also get 10 speed Tiagra for very cheap, even 11 speed Ultegra for just over a grand.

But I kind of want Campagnolo...


What do you think?

 

[purcell]

Why do you think that Shimano MTB parts are interchangeable with Shimano road parts?

They aren't.

 

[King Boonen]

Why do you think that Shimano MTB parts are interchangeable with Shimano road parts?

They aren't.

Chains and cassettes are as far as I'm aware, as are bottom brackets (as long as they fit the frame obviously). I don't know about derailluers but I'm sure I've seen someone running a Tiagra rear on a mountain bike before.

 

[Hawkwood]

I put together a mix and match Athena and Chorus 11 set up for reasonable money and love it, but then I'm a dyed in the wool Campag fan.

 

[Benotti69]

Robert Millar said when he rode one groupset the other seemed to work better.

 

[King Boonen]

I put together a mix and match Athena and Chorus 11 set up for reasonable money and love it, but then I'm a dyed in the wool Campag fan.

Out of my price range really, I'm looking at Veloce vs Tiagra or possibly Centaur vs 105.

It's going to be run through a Scottish winter if that helps with anything.

 

[King Boonen]

Robert Millar said when he rode one groupset the other seemed to work better.

But that was when he was riding Sram wasn't it?

 

[winkybiker]

But that was when he was riding Sram wasn't it?

Fortunately for Robert, that wasn't an option for him. But he might have run some Suntour Superbe Pro in his day. Very, very nice gear.

 

[winkybiker]

Chains and cassettes are as far as I'm aware, as are bottom brackets (as long as they fit the frame obviously). I don't know about derailluers but I'm sure I've seen someone running a Tiagra rear on a mountain bike before.

Yeah, except that you likely wouldn't ever actually exchange the parts between the bikes, would you? I guess you only need one spare chain if they are the same, though. Having said that, chains are sort-off interchangeable between brands anyway (up to a point).

I run Campy (10 speed Record and 11 speed Super Record) on my road bikes, but Shimano on my Tourer/commuter (Ultegra shifters and an XT rear derailleur!). Compatibility? - not much, really. Doesn't bother me.

It would however be better to have the same shifter configuration on all three bikes (I get confused easily), so if I was the OP, I'd just stick with Shimano. Campy is only drool-worthy at the high-end IMO.

 

[craptastic]

Swapped out 105 for campy centaur on my cross bike. Soooo much better. 105 was clunky and broke or wore out constantly. Cross bike goes all year round here in calgary through -30 Celsius snow and one flood. Solid in any weather I've had to deal with.

 

[purcell]

My commuter/ travel / adventure bike is equipped with Campag Centaur 10 speed.

Going on 9 years, and I have replaced tires and chains. That's it.

My MTB has Shimano on it. None of my road bikes do.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

So, I'm looking for a road bike to commute on. I'll probably get one from Ribble Cycles which means I have a choice between Campagnolo and Shimano.

My question is should I go for Campagnolo?

My mountain bike runs 10 speed Shimano gears, it does seem very sensible to stick with Shimano as the parts are then interchangeable in case of emergencies and it means no extra tools etc. I can also get 10 speed Tiagra for very cheap, even 11 speed Ultegra for just over a grand.

But I kind of want Campagnolo...


What do you think?

Of course..you have the $, looking for a watch..a Seiko or Rolex..you have the $, looking for a car, a Toyota or Audi?

Get the premier gruppo, not shimano and certainly not scram..cheap junk that it is.

OBTW-shimano 10s road and MTB stuff is not compatible..10s road STI not shift 10s MTB ders, for example.

Centaur gone for 2015..probably some screaming good deals now or soon...

 

[King Boonen]

Of course..you have the $, looking for a watch..a Seiko or Rolex..you have the $, looking for a car, a Toyota or Audi?

Get the premier gruppo, not shimano and certainly not scram..cheap junk that it is.

OBTW-shimano 10s road and MTB stuff is not compatible..10s road STI not shift 10s MTB ders, for example.

Centaur gone for 2015..probably some screaming good deals now or soon...

Honestly? I'd take the Seiko and the Toyota and buy some new forks for my mountain bike (or a full suss) and this is partly my problem. It's a commuter. I could technically get a cheap single speed and stick the rest into my mountain bike, or Tiagra and still be able to afford a set of Pikes/Slants instead of getting Campy Centaur.

The only thing is if I start to go out on the road, then I want a groupset that's going to work and work well. That's why the question has come up for me.

Should I go for Campy even if it's only Veloce?

The bolded is interesting, winkybiker says he's running Ultegra shifters with an XT rear derailluer? I was under the impression that the shifters all worked with all the different derailleurs, the only real consideration is cage length if you want to use an MTB cassette with some big sprockets on.


What different tools would I need to maintain a Campy groupset over my Shimano MTB groupset? I'll be looking for external BB bikes.



Winky, if I'm in a fix, yes, it would be useful to be able to exchange bits. I realise this is very, very unlikely, but if I trashed my rear d and needed to commute it'd be helpful if I could just swap the MTB one on while I replace it so I can still get to work. As for shifting, this will be my only road bike so it'll be different whatever.


Purcell and craptastic, thanks, it does seem everyone who uses Campy loves it.

 

[purcell]

FWIW, very few people around here are going to know as much as Busted Knuckle on what works and doesn't/ what can be mixed and matched, and what can't.

I have been riding Campy since the '70's. Tried some Shimano on a bike once, didn't like and haven't looked sideways since.

I have all 10 speed ( one set of 9 speed chorus shifters upgraded to 10 speed, courtesy of Busted Knuckle), ranging from Veloce to Record.

When 11 speed was announced I started stockpiling 10 speed shifters and rear derailleurs.

I will never have to go any other way the rest of my days. Cassettes and chains I can get anywhere.

 

[richwagmn]

I ride a cross bike in our brutal MN winters equipped with Ultegra 6700. Never had an issue even with all the sand and salt spray, ice and cold. Always works.

Campag has the snob factor for sure. But Shimano works and works well (and they've given Campaq plenty of stuff to copy over the years from dual pivot brakes to brifters to ramped cogs to pinned chain rings. Hell where would be if if Shimano hadn't moved the industry forward. Still friction shifting I guess).

Buy Shimano and spend your money on other stuff. Leave Campag to the coffee shop posers.

 

[purcell]

I ride a cross bike in our brutal MN winters equipped with Ultegra 6700. Never had an issue even with all the sand and salt spray, ice and cold. Always works.

Campag has the snob factor for sure. But Shimano works and works well (and they've given Campaq plenty of stuff to copy over the years from dual pivot brakes to brifters to ramped cogs to pinned chain rings. Hell where would be if if Shimano hadn't moved the industry forward. Still friction shifting I guess).

Buy Shimano and spend your money on other stuff. Leave Campag to the coffee shop posers.

Thank you very much. Appreciated.

Love you too.

A**hole.

 

[Hawkwood]

Campag has the snob factor for sure. But Shimano works and works well (and they've given Campaq plenty of stuff to copy over the years from dual pivot brakes to brifters to ramped cogs to pinned chain rings. Hell where would be if if Shimano hadn't moved the industry forward. Still friction shifting I guess).

Dual pivot brakes, a British design from the 1960s, they were all over the place when I was a kid back in the 60s and 70s. Shimano claimed to have invented cassette hubs, but I've been shown a three speed one from the 1940s or 50s, again British!

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Honestly? I'd take the Seiko and the Toyota and buy some new forks for my mountain bike (or a full suss) and this is partly my problem. It's a commuter. I could technically get a cheap single speed and stick the rest into my mountain bike, or Tiagra and still be able to afford a set of Pikes/Slants instead of getting Campy Centaur.

The only thing is if I start to go out on the road, then I want a groupset that's going to work and work well. That's why the question has come up for me.

Should I go for Campy even if it's only Veloce?

The bolded is interesting, winkybiker says he's running Ultegra shifters with an XT rear derailluer? I was under the impression that the shifters all worked with all the different derailleurs, the only real consideration is cage length if you want to use an MTB cassette with some big sprockets on.


What different tools would I need to maintain a Campy groupset over my Shimano MTB groupset? I'll be looking for external BB bikes.



Winky, if I'm in a fix, yes, it would be useful to be able to exchange bits. I realise this is very, very unlikely, but if I trashed my rear d and needed to commute it'd be helpful if I could just swap the MTB one on while I replace it so I can still get to work. As for shifting, this will be my only road bike so it'll be different whatever.


Purcell and craptastic, thanks, it does seem everyone who uses Campy loves it.

Yes...no special tools...for 10s...

shimano 10s STI works with shimano 9s MTB rear ders ONLY..not 10s

 

[Bustedknuckle]

I ride a cross bike in our brutal MN winters equipped with Ultegra 6700. Never had an issue even with all the sand and salt spray, ice and cold. Always works.

Campag has the snob factor for sure. But Shimano works and works well (and they've given Campaq plenty of stuff to copy over the years from dual pivot brakes to brifters to ramped cogs to pinned chain rings. Hell where would be if if Shimano hadn't moved the industry forward. Still friction shifting I guess).

Buy Shimano and spend your money on other stuff. Leave Campag to the coffee shop posers.

Except..Campagnolo first to 9s(1997), first to 10s(2000) and first to 11s(2009)...

 

[Hawkwood]

Except..Campagnolo first to 9s(1997), first to 10s(2000) and first to 11s(2009)...

First to quick release skewers as well. And probably the first ever groupset.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Fortunately for Robert, that wasn't an option for him. But he might have run some Suntour Superbe Pro in his day. Very, very nice gear.

That Suntour stuff was great. Which goes to show you, staying in the industry is not just about making nice higher-end stuff as good as the high-end norm. Unfortunately the group did not make it past the transition to indexed shifting.

Campag is great.

 

[Benotti69]

That Suntour stuff was great. Which goes to show you, staying in the industry is not just about making nice higher-end stuff as good as the high-end norm. Unfortunately the group did not make it past the transition to indexed shifting.

Campag is great.

It is a pity there is only Campag or Shimano, when he had suntour and modolo there as well.

Saying that there are some decent independent brake caliper makers.

 

[Hawkwood]

It is a pity there is only Campag or Shimano, when he had suntour and modolo there as well.

Saying that there are some decent independent brake caliper makers.

Modolo made some lovely brakes back in the 70s and 80s. I used their cheap base model brakes for a few years in the 80s, they were great. I thought SunTour gear was both attractive and welle designed.

 

[purcell]

It is a pity there is only Campag or Shimano, when he had suntour and modolo there as well.

Saying that there are some decent independent brake caliper makers.[/QUOTE]

Best brakes I have used are the Mavic SSC's. I have them on two bikes and would have them on all of my bikes if I could find more sets of them. For some reason Mavic quit making them which is a shame.

 

[StyrbjornSterki]

...But I kind of want Campagnolo...

What do you think?

Scratch that itch. If for no other reason than that, get the Campy. Otherwise, you'll forever be wondering.

That's how I came by my first Campy gruppo. Just because.

I never looked back. In large part because I can't be bothered to wait for the LBS to mend my bikes when something breaks. And if you ride enough, eventually something's going to break. In time, lots of somethings. ShimaNO wants to sell you an entire new component, not pieces parts. Everything you need for Campy rebuilds is readily available. I want to mend it. Myself. And be back on the road tomorrow. My road bikes now have a hodgepodge of brakes and whatnot, but the shifters and derailleurs all are entirely Campy. Still. Even though it's long since out of my system.

If it turns out Campy doesn't blow up your skirt, there's no reason you couldn't switch to ShimaNO somewhere down the line, but at least you'll have done so for material reasons, and not for fear someone might call you "a poser."