Which groupset to buy?

[richwagmn]

Go see a bike shop and see what lever your hands like the most, get that one. If it doesn't matter, get Campagnolo, Athena or Centaur. If shimano, Ultegra or 105..stay away from sram.

You're going to spend a lot of times on the hoods, find something that feels good.

Also, don't be afraid to mix and match from groups (from the same mfg). Tight on money? Mix in some 105 stuff with your Ultegra. Or look at e-bay for some lightly used stuff too.

 

[Cooper]

I have been riding Campy for 15 years. I have had 4 different groupsets.

'96 Record, '98 Record/Chorus, '04 Chorus, and now '11 Chorus. All worked great. Nothing wore out. I just simply sold each bike after 6 years of use. My '04 Chorus chain barely stretched even after 6 years.

If you will do a lot of riding and think you will want to keep the groupset more than 4 or 5 years I would go with Campy.

I do like the performance of Shimano but it seems like my buddies are replacing parts faster than me.

 

[FignonLeGrand]

I have been riding Campy for 15 years. I have had 4 different groupsets.

'96 Record, '98 Record/Chorus, '04 Chorus, and now '11 Chorus. All worked great. Nothing wore out. I just simply sold each bike after 6 years of use. My '04 Chorus chain barely stretched even after 6 years.

If you will do a lot of riding and think you will want to keep the groupset more than 4 or 5 years I would go with Campy.

I do like the performance of Shimano but it seems like my buddies are replacing parts faster than me.

+1 for me. Overall campag has the best finish and will last the longest. I quite like the lighter feel of shimano gear changes which are super smooth, but nothing beats the positive click of the campag lever. However I find the 11 speed version faster changing but not quite as definite. Think campag brakes have a better feel, you can modulate more whereas shimano stop well but always seem a bit more on or off to me.

 

[richwagmn]

+1 for me. Overall campag has the best finish and will last the longest. I quite like the lighter feel of shimano gear changes which are super smooth, but nothing beats the positive click of the campag lever. However I find the 11 speed version faster changing but not quite as definite. Think campag brakes have a better feel, you can modulate more whereas shimano stop well but always seem a bit more on or off to me.

I love the campaq hoods and all and their finish is beautiful, but I can't get past the release lever sticking out the side of the hood. It seems like shifting from the drops would require some strange hand contortions. Maybe you get used to it?

 

[Parera]

I love the campaq hoods and all and their finish is beautiful, but I can't get past the release lever sticking out the side of the hood. It seems like shifting from the drops would require some strange hand contortions. Maybe you get used to it?

Unless you have incredibly tiny hands/toe thumbs, the lever isn't a stretch whatsoever, esepcially given the shape of most modern "compact" drops.

 

[richwagmn]

Unless you have incredibly tiny hands/toe thumbs, the lever isn't a stretch whatsoever, esepcially given the shape of most modern "compact" drops.

Ok. "Ergo" (ie modolo) bend bars might have been more interesting.

 

[drb716]

Record or Athena on a steel frame?

I've narrowed my frame choice to Tommasini Tecno or Ciocc San Cristobal, but I'm still undecided on groupsets: Campagnolo Record 11 or Athena 11. I've read a few reviews that suggest Athena's not what it used to be in terms of quality, but the price still makes it tempting.
Is higher quality enough to justify Record for sportives, fast club training, some racing? (this will be a lifer bike - expecting it to last longer than I do)
Any experience with carbon crank longevity issues?
Thanks,
B

 

[pedaling squares]

I've narrowed my frame choice to Tommasini Tecno or Ciocc San Cristobal, but I'm still undecided on groupsets: Campagnolo Record 11 or Athena 11. I've read a few reviews that suggest Athena's not what it used to be in terms of quality, but the price still makes it tempting.
Is higher quality enough to justify Record for sportives, fast club training, some racing? (this will be a lifer bike - expecting it to last longer than I do)
Any experience with carbon crank longevity issues?
Thanks,
B

What is most important to you? Price, build quality, weight, appearance? And don't feel like a dork if you say appearance, I think how a group looks on your bike plays a role in how you much you enjoy it. I haven't heard about Athena 11 having a lower quality but you'll find a few shop guys here who could answer that question pretty quickly. If I had those frames I would look awfully hard at Athena 11 (chrome), simply because I would be happy with that level of build quality, the price point, and I like how that group looks on a steel frame. My style of riding doesn't call for the lightest possible bike, and if I were to focus on weight I would probably find a greater advantage if I took a 1/2 kilo out of my backside instead of my components.

 

[avanti]

I'm new to the road scene and looking to build up a Giant TCR 1 frame with a groupset (have a budget of around $1,500). I found this article comparing some different brands like campy and shimano. It seems that they are really all pretty similar in quality. Anyone have suggestions or recommendations? Here's the article: http://tourdefrance1.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/shimano-vs-sram-vs-campagnolo-groupsets/

There are end-of-season bike sales starting now. Sometimes there are some well equipped bikes for around $1,500 but somes odd sizes (large or small). Buy the bike, strip off the components to use on your Giant frame, then sell the stripped frame on ebay at a bargain price.

 

[marinoni]

I've narrowed my frame choice to Tommasini Tecno or Ciocc San Cristobal, but I'm still undecided on groupsets: Campagnolo Record 11 or Athena 11. I've read a few reviews that suggest Athena's not what it used to be in terms of quality, but the price still makes it tempting.
Is higher quality enough to justify Record for sportives, fast club training, some racing? (this will be a lifer bike - expecting it to last longer than I do)
Any experience with carbon crank longevity issues?
Thanks,
B

I've had an '06 Chorus Group on my bike since '08 and couldn't be happier. I'm 6'6 220lbs and the crank has been fine so no problems there. You might want to try Chorus as a compromise between Record and Athena. Also, check around different shops, they may have a group from a past year. I forget what I paid for the 06 Chorus group in 08 but it was less than Shimano Ultegra so it was a serious deal. I strongly agree with Pedalling Squares about the look of your group. I know that Shimano makes great stuff but that crank is uglier than sin and I could just never feel good about having it. Enjoy the new bike, 30 years later I still remember riding home from the shop on my first really good bike.

 

[Boeing]

force, ultegra, chorus all legit.

if pride and tradition is your cupcake at the coffee shop then campy is really all these guys are saying

 

[TexPat]

Quality, durability, serviceability--Campagnolo gets the best marks.
If I needed another gruppo, it would be Campagnolo, but my 9yr old Dura Ace just keeps on ticking.

 

[JRTinMA]

Just roll fixie. Get good at track stands and skid stopping. The hipster girls will dig you.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

I've narrowed my frame choice to Tommasini Tecno or Ciocc San Cristobal, but I'm still undecided on groupsets: Campagnolo Record 11 or Athena 11. I've read a few reviews that suggest Athena's not what it used to be in terms of quality, but the price still makes it tempting.
Is higher quality enough to justify Record for sportives, fast club training, some racing? (this will be a lifer bike - expecting it to last longer than I do)
Any experience with carbon crank longevity issues?
Thanks,
B

Build quality of Athena is excellent, it's just not the number 3 group like it once was behind Record and Chorus. Now it's number 4, and best when it's all aluminum, it's beautiful!

Look at Chorus 11s as well. same as Record w/o some meaningless things like ceramic-esque(USB) bearings, little less carbon in the Fder and rear der. Athena uses Chorus cassette and chain. Best value is Chorus, iffa ya want carbon bits. Best looking is Athena.

Athena is PowerTorque crank and Powershift shifters, They work well but one higher gear a time VS multi higher with thumb button on Chorus and Record.

NO issues with carbon cranks from Campagnolo.

stay away from anything sram..

 

[hfer07]

I've narrowed my frame choice to Tommasini Tecno or Ciocc San Cristobal, but I'm still undecided on groupsets: Campagnolo Record 11 or Athena 11. I've read a few reviews that suggest Athena's not what it used to be in terms of quality, but the price still makes it tempting.
Is higher quality enough to justify Record for sportives, fast club training, some racing? (this will be a lifer bike - expecting it to last longer than I do)
Any experience with carbon crank longevity issues?
Thanks,
B

I do have Record 11 on my bike, and oddly enough-I had the same doubt as you do whether to go for it or Athena 11 due to price value-so I went for record because of the multi-gear shifting option that Athena lacks- it was money well spent-Just superb, and I adore it.

as far as the Carbon crank longevity- no question about-they DO last longer because of the material nature that avoids having to deal with rust & wearing overtime...

 

[Giuseppe Magnetico]

I've narrowed my frame choice to Tommasini Tecno or Ciocc San Cristobal, but I'm still undecided on groupsets: Campagnolo Record 11 or Athena 11. I've read a few reviews that suggest Athena's not what it used to be in terms of quality, but the price still makes it tempting.
Is higher quality enough to justify Record for sportives, fast club training, some racing? (this will be a lifer bike - expecting it to last longer than I do)
Any experience with carbon crank longevity issues?
Thanks,
B

I'm currently running a 2012 Campagnolo Athena all silver alloy grouppo on a carbon CX bike set up as a gravel road racer. This is the first Campy groupset in my stable that has been anything less than Chorus in 26 years of riding pretty much nothing but Campy, and I can safely say that it is quality through and through. I've run this bike over many hard miles this season with zero issues. Was a bit apprehensive at first about the lack of multiple down-shifts with Athena, but I really haven't missed it at all. The most critical use of a multiple gear throw has always been on the up-shift anyway, and that remains.

We should get a petition going to get Campy to release an alloy silver Retro Record group for people with lugged steel bikes, looks way better than carbon. One of my favorite shops here in Colorado is coincidentally a Tommasini and Ciocc dealer and have seen both bikes built with the Athena silver and carbon with SR/R/C/A. The silver just looks much better, especially on the more subdued paint job of the Ciocc.

 

[kuoirad]

How about a petition to get Campy to start doing triples again?

 

[DirtyWorks]

mix and match and buy second hand for certain items.

This works for me. It's about being patient and looking for the odd lots. Ex. Too many people selling one rear mech and getting a good price.
Ex #2 Steeeep discount if you go with bar-end shifters and 9 speed.

 

[drb716]

Thanks for the the insight and advice - very helpful as always!
B

 

[Bustedknuckle]

How about a petition to get Campy to start doing triples again?

2013, they are...

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/...ur-and-veloce-now-with-triple-cranksets-34029

 

[kuoirad]

2013, they are...

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/...ur-and-veloce-now-with-triple-cranksets-34029

Now all I need is to either get over not liking the thumb buttons or for Campy to switch to the Shimano paradigm for shifter layout.

 

[avanti]

Now all I need is to either get over not liking the thumb buttons or for Campy to switch to the Shimano paradigm for shifter layout.

I agree with you on the thumb shifters.

Also all my wheels take Shimano clusters so switching to campy means I need to buy new wheels (although I have an old bike with Campy record 7-speed deraileur and I intend to test it out with Shimano 9-speed cluster).

 

[kuoirad]

I agree with you on the thumb shifters.

Well, at least I won't be the only person branded a heretic here in a little while.

 

[Giuseppe Magnetico]

Forget getting used to Campy thumb levers, that's easy. It's the cassette bodies of Shimano that I can't deal with, depending on hub mfg for the S brands they burn though these bodies at a crazy rate compared to Campy. I would actually ride Shimano if their freehub spline design made sense, but it doesn't, so I stay away.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Well, at least I won't be the only person branded a heretic here in a little while.

For those who are undecided about which shifter feels best to them, we say ride each and decide. If ya like Campag, use those, shimano, use those, If you don't care, use Campagnolo.

Some people just don't like the thumb button...some do...