Campagnolo - still the bees knees?

[munk93]

Campag: Thumb
Shimano: Back of forefinger
Sram: Pull the shifter close to the handle bars.

I've ridden with mechanical Shimano and Campa, and Sram also.
Sram Red is good. Particular when sprinting, but the whole groupset feels a bit weird to me. The way you shift gears in the sprint is great, but it feels like something is about to break when going allout in a sprint.
Dura Ace 7800. Durable and a stiff crank. Compared to Sram, you've don't have the same feeling of a rear shifter that is about to explode into pieces. But the way you shift gears is a bit annoying, but still possible when sprinting. I've got used to it.
7900. I've got my hands on some of the first STI levers on the marked. And I think something was wrong with them. Rode with them for 2 years, and the gearshifting was sloppy and irritating. Close to impossible to adjust correctly. The 7900 rearshifter worked fine with the 7900 barend shifters on my TT bike. And then I don't really like the looks of either the 7900 mec groub or the new mechanical Dura ace group. Mostly due to levers and cranksets. A DI2 groupset with a Hollowgram or a blacked out rotor looks very good thoug.
Went with record on a bike i borrowed for 3 weeks. Great groupset. Feels awesome, looks awesome. The Thumbshifters felt a little too tight IMO. Thats why I think that the EPS might be a better solution for me. Except for the ugly front shifter and big case of a battery.

[de zwarten]

What if I want to sprint from the drops?

Use your thumb and quit staring at those classy, elegant ergopowers!

[Imaking20]

@munk93 - thanks for the detailed response. I've yet to ride anything Shimano that felt "good" to me. Haven't ridden 9000 yet though - can't say I'd swap my new Red for it regardless. I won't argue that rear shifting under power makes some questionable sounds but it's worked for me every time in a sprint; and quickly.

Reaching thumbs up in a sprint looks to me like having to loosen grip, among other nuisances, from the drops. Obviously it can be done.. since Campy isn't exactly a new theory.

Nobody around me has anything for me to try!!!


...really, I am just looking for a reason to have the SR Ti crank on my SL.

[justkeepedaling]

9000 is the best mechanical group out there. Fantastic shifting

[TimW]

Reaching thumbs up in a sprint looks to me like having to loosen grip, among other nuisances, from the drops. Obviously it can be done.. since Campy isn't exactly a new theory.

It's never stopped Alessandro Petacchi! Seriously though you just need the right bars and position the levers correctly. Not pointing towards the sky like Shimano shifters of old.

These days, I only ride Shimano on my CX bike. Campagnolo on road. I honestly prefer Campag, I find it's actually a lot easier to change using your thumb and the brake lever doesn't move which is nice. one item, one action. Campag stuff is made really well and it's technically rebuildable. In reality the actual cost of the spare parts often outweigh this. Then of course there is the fact I really enjoy owning Campagnolo stuff, it's not easy to describe. I don't get that satisfaction from other kit.

Having said all that, Shimano kit works really well, I can't knock it.

[Gregorio]

What if I want to sprint from the drops?

Don't you have thumbs?
Sprinters have been winning on campagnolo for eons. There is no magic.

[HUMP DIESEL]

It's never stopped Alessandro Petacchi! Seriously though you just need the right bars and position the levers correctly. Not pointing towards the sky like Shimano shifters of old.

I think this quote is what is the main underlying factor with any set up. The right bars and the correct lever position. I had this conversation with a shop mechanic one day. He said the same thing about the thumb. I told him if the position on the bike is correct, then that part of the equation is not a factor. I raced on Campag years ago, and never had an issue with reaching the thumb trigger to access the gears in a sprint, and furthermore, the ability to dump the gears for a sprint was a welcome addition to the arsenal.

HUMP

[mythical]

I couldn't pass up on sharing this, even though I'm partial to DA9000:

[stella-azzurra]

Super Record 80th Anniversary Groups $2999


This is a limited production set. It will not last long.

[Imaking20]

@TimW - thanks! And the sensation you're describing sounds like a Ducati owner! Without the maintenance bills..

Again, I'm not saying I think it can't be done. Obviously that's not the case. What I'm getting at is that I've never ridden Campy nor do I ride with anyone who does/has. Nor is it available anywhere locally. I'm trying to build a visual using text.

Also, I think the "double dump" feature on SR shifters sounds fantastic.

[TimW]

I had one of those too (a Ducati). Campagnolo build quality is better, it doesn't rust so badly(at all)

[bluesea]

Reaching thumbs up in a sprint looks to me like having to loosen grip, among other nuisances, from the drops. Obviously it can be done.. since Campy isn't exactly a new theory.

Grip less loose with forefinger jammed to underside of hoods. Granted with SRAM you can slam upshifts from anywhere in the drops. ShimaNO--I'm still trying to figure out upshifts. Maybe my rightside fingers are too busted up...

[Imaking20]

I don't have my hands high up in the drops when sprinting. As you mentioned with SRAM - I don't have to.


I found a nearby bike shop who has some Campy equipped bikes in stock. I'll be going down to ride one on Friday and will hopefully put my curiosity to rest.

[Kjetil]

Also, I think the "double dump" feature on SR shifters sounds fantastic.

It's also on Record and Chorus.
Showed it to a guy on Shimano today. First he asked what that thumb thingy was, but was extremely impressed with my double dump. I lost count of the number of clicks he had to do both ways to move between chain rings whilst keeping the same cadence...

Sprinting from the drops is easy, but as has been mentioned you cannot point the levers skywards.

[Thrillho]

I have campy, SRAM Red and Di2 and XTR on my bikes. They are all good. The difference between them is just personal taste and comfort. Were I to spec a new built night now, it would be mechanical campy, hands down. Not because it is better, but because I like it better.