c60rider wrote: ↑Mon Jan 24, 2022 12:33 am
Only Campagnolo know how many mechanical rim groups they sell compared with electric/disc etc. Hopefully it's enough to make them viable profit wise. All we know is that the numbers are far lower than Shimano but the majority who buy shimano Ultegra/Dura ace are probably going electric/disc so it doesn't make economic sense for them to keep investing so much in mechanical as the returns for them are probably not worth it. Which is why they've probably dropped mechanical from those groups. I'd like to think there are enough like me that want to keep their bike as mechanical as possible with Campagnolo and rim brakes. I don't want to see them abandon that on their top tier groups in the way Shimano has. I want future SR groups to continue with all gear and brake options mechanical/electric, rim/disc. I'm already starting to feel somewhat alienated by the bike industry (bigger frame manufacturers) pushing disc brakes onto everyone without the component manufacturers doing the same. Options is what we need. Saying that I'm sure I'll be able to buy rim brakes for the rest of my lifetime. You can still get toe clips and straps if you really want them
I agree with everything you've said, but will say as a long time (and current) mechanical Campy user that the writing is on the wall for rim braked mechanical groups.
I have heard Campy insiders say that, for example, Mr C himself actually contemplated taking action against/barring companies that were stripping, silver polishing and pantographing Campy groups. They only relaxed on that when Campy North America showed them how all the chatter on the forums etc. was positive - not negative. Still, they don't want to be seen as a relic of the 60's/70's/80's - they want to be seen (and in many ways legitimately are) at the cutting edge of performance.
The release of Ekar in itself says much about where they are. Remember this is a company that had a very ill-fated entry into the MTB space which (along with other business decisions outside of cycling) really hurt them so they wouldn't have taken the step lightly.
Enjoy your mechanical rim brakes and hoard if you must (I have) because while they may survive another release cycle the days are numbered. Campy is small by comparison to SRAM and Shimano, but they are not a "small" company otherwise. They employ a lot of people, they have very advanced production facilities and methods and their R&D people are among the very best.
Mr C is smart. He knows that when enthusiasts like us - who represent a tiny fraction of the cycling world - are either dead or too old to ride, the company won't survive if it doesn't innovate and stay appealing to a new generation of riders and compatible with mass market bike frames.
He can't rely on selling mechanical rim brake groupsets to old guys with beards and birkenstocks on custom metal frames. They need to make groupsets to sell to young guys with mass market carbon frames... but who interestingly also have beards and birkenstocks