What retro Campagnolo groupset??

[Llewellyn]

With a bit of luck there may be another Llewellyn frame in my future. If this happens I'd like to fit it with Campagnolo gear (the current one is Ultegra). Given my preference for older 9 speed gear, I'm interested in what older Campy groupset people would recommend and might be possible to find either as NOS or lightly used. I'd even consider 10 speed but I've read that 10 speed Campy can be a bit temperamental to keep tuned (I don't know if this is true or not).

One other thing, it must be a silver gruppo (I hate grey or black components)

 

[jamiephillips]

Record...

*edit* Expensive and hard to find though? (9 speed) But I'm guessing your frame isn't cheap? And would you be truly happy with anything else?

 

[bladerunner]

As an example, these two groupsets are on eBay at the moment [Campag Record 9-speed and Chorus 9-speed groupsets in anodised silver finish]. They not new obviously but the Chrous one looks like it's in very nice condition :

 

[Fiemme]

Why not fit a new alloy athena group to the frame. It will look just as retro as the old alloy chorus. Yet its new with a warranty.

 

[kiwirider]

I'd even consider 10 speed but I've read that 10 speed Campy can be a bit temperamental to keep tuned (I don't know if this is true or not).

This is utter and complete bull****. Whoever told you this must be a monkey of a mechanic (be that a home mechanic or in a shop) - or else they're trying to sell you something else ... or they just don't know **** about what they're talking about ...

I've ridden only Campag on my roadies since 1987 or so, when I first got serious about biking. My current roadie is Record and my cyclocross bike is new Veloce. When I'm riding (living where I do, I need to put the bike away from late November to early March), I'm doing about 400-500km per week. I can't think when I last tuned either of those bikes - it was ages back - and they're both running fine!

 

[Bustedknuckle]

With a bit of luck there may be another Llewellyn frame in my future. If this happens I'd like to fit it with Campagnolo gear (the current one is Ultegra). Given my preference for older 9 speed gear, I'm interested in what older Campy groupset people would recommend and might be possible to find either as NOS or lightly used. I'd even consider 10 speed but I've read that 10 speed Campy can be a bit temperamental to keep tuned (I don't know if this is true or not).

One other thing, it must be a silver gruppo (I hate grey or black components)

It's not.

2012 Athena aluminum...very nice.

 

[Llewellyn]

This is utter and complete bull****. Whoever told you this must be a monkey of a mechanic (be that a home mechanic or in a shop) - or else they're trying to sell you something else ... or they just don't know **** about what they're talking about ...

Whooaaah, calm down I wasn't trying to upset anyone or start anything with the comment, I was just relaying something I'd read and I'm happy that people have given me the opposite point of view. Now I know I can consider 10 speed without any reservations if I should decide to go down that path.

Current Athena is also a possibility

 

[Master50]

Whooaaah, calm down I wasn't trying to upset anyone or start anything with the comment, I was just relaying something I'd read and I'm happy that people have given me the opposite point of view. Now I know I can consider 10 speed without any reservations if I should decide to go down that path.

Current Athena is also a possibility

Pretty passionate response wasn't it? I might say with a little less fervour that I agree about the reliability. Once you get it dialled in it pretty much stays there until you change something like your shift cables or bend a hangar. Of the 4 road bikes here 1 is DA 2 are record 1 is record/super hybrid.
I must attest the DA group is the oldest at 8 speed (1989) I had to soak the levers in kerosene some 8 years ago and replace the rear derrallieur around then too. Other than wear parts like chains and cables no other problems. I never use the campy stuff long enough before I am buying something newer and selling the old at big savings. I have to promise to not buy an electric super record until it is lighter than this years mechanical system.

 

[steelciocc]

Centaur Alloy

I have a couple grouppos worth of 2006 Centaur (all alloy) squirreled away for a rainy day. Let me know if you want some.

10-speed Campy requires NO adjustment once it's set up. I have a bit over 5,000 miles on my most recent 10-speed Chorus bike and I havent touched a thing since it was initially tuned.

I once sent Campagnolo USA an email encouraging them to produce a "Campagnolo Classic" gruppo for builds like yours (and thousands of others every day). I suggested C Record crankset, Chorus Monoplanar calipers, and a choice of alloy ergopower levers or indexed downtube levers. I think they'd sell every set they could make.

 

[jamiephillips]

^Did you get a response? I've often thought that Campag should re-issue the old Super Record gear for retro bike nuts too!

 

[steelciocc]

No, never heard anything back. I love Campy but often question their decision making process...

 

[Fiemme]

Pretty passionate response wasn't it? I might say with a little less fervour that I agree about the reliability. Once you get it dialled in it pretty much stays there until you change something like your shift cables or bend a hangar. Of the 4 road bikes here 1 is DA 2 are record 1 is record/super hybrid.
I must attest the DA group is the oldest at 8 speed (1989) I had to soak the levers in kerosene some 8 years ago and replace the rear derrallieur around then too. Other than wear parts like chains and cables no other problems. I never use the campy stuff long enough before I am buying something newer and selling the old at big savings. I have to promise to not buy an electric super record until it is lighter than this years mechanical system.

I've got a similar DA group with down tube levers. Still works like it was new. The old DA stuff was built to last unlike the new DA.
I agrre with most posts campag 10 speed works fine. I have a bike with the full alloy chorus 10 speed (as per image in earlier post) and never had an issue.

Be careful buying any old alloy campag cranks as the bottom brackets differ from model to model. the Record and Chorus generally run a 102mm BB, where as the Centaur/Daytona and Veloce used a 112mm. The 102mm Campag BB are hard to find. However there are some after market manufacturers making replacements.

 

[jamiephillips]

Yeah Ciocc, imagine getting your hands on a brand new one of these!! I dread to think how much they'd charge for it though!!

 

[Fiemme]

With a bit of luck there may be another Llewellyn frame in my future. If this happens I'd like to fit it with Campagnolo gear (the current one is Ultegra). Given my preference for older 9 speed gear, I'm interested in what older Campy groupset people would recommend and might be possible to find either as NOS or lightly used. I'd even consider 10 speed but I've read that 10 speed Campy can be a bit temperamental to keep tuned (I don't know if this is true or not).

One other thing, it must be a silver gruppo (I hate grey or black components)

Instead of a Llewellyn how about one of these.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51534746@N07/sets/72157629239616713/

PM me if you would like more info.