Q about Campy Powertrain Components

[Arthur Shapiro]

A couple weeks ago I asked about the best way of getting some lower gears on
my Campy Chorus/Record setup, in order to more comfortably / less agonizingly
tackle some truly grotesque climbs. I got a lot of intelligent responses
pointing out the good and bad things about a bigger rear cluster, a triple,
and a compact crank.

I was reluctant to go with the compact because the only cassette with a 25
large had only a 12 small cog, and I appreciate currently having a 53x12, even
if it doesn't get used that much. A 50x12 wouldn't cut it for me.

All changed last Sunday when a new Campy Serotta appeared on my club ride,
complete with a 11x25 cluster that I had no idea existed. My eyes grew wide.

This was also my first view of that newfangled Ultra-Torque BB. This is
rubbing me that right way as a way of getting a 15% lower low than my 39x25,
which I'm sure will be adequate for anything I'm likely to climb.

I guess some questions to the Campy mavens are:

a). what's the scuttlebutt on the Ultra Torque - legitimately decent product,
bad news gimmick, or just another way of attacking a problem? I'm kind of
angry about my Chorus BB, which had to be replaced at 4 years. The local pro
shop said that wasn't atypical.

b). If I went this way, I could even get the complete new compact groupset,
which while expensive certainly is a proportionally better deal than just the
front powertrain components. What's the difference between Record and Chorus
these days? I know about the titanium cogs on the cassette, which probably
isn't great for wear (correct?), but don't comprehend what the $$$ get me on
the Record.

c). I'm in no rush; is there anything coming out in the 2008 line that might
be interesting?

Thanks for any info.

Art

[Hank Wirtz]

On Sep 6, 1:49 pm, art.shap...@unisys.com (Arthur Shapiro) wrote:
> A couple weeks ago I asked about the best way of getting some lower gears on
> my Campy Chorus/Record setup, in order to more comfortably / less agonizingly
> tackle some truly grotesque climbs. I got a lot of intelligent responses
> pointing out the good and bad things about a bigger rear cluster, a triple,
> and a compact crank.
>
> I was reluctant to go with the compact because the only cassette with a 25
> large had only a 12 small cog, and I appreciate currently having a 53x12, even
> if it doesn't get used that much. A 50x12 wouldn't cut it for me.
>
> All changed last Sunday when a new Campy Serotta appeared on my club ride,
> complete with a 11x25 cluster that I had no idea existed. My eyes grew wide.
>
> This was also my first view of that newfangled Ultra-Torque BB. This is
> rubbing me that right way as a way of getting a 15% lower low than my 39x25,
> which I'm sure will be adequate for anything I'm likely to climb.
>
> I guess some questions to the Campy mavens are:
>
> a). what's the scuttlebutt on the Ultra Torque - legitimately decent product,
> bad news gimmick, or just another way of attacking a problem? I'm kind of
> angry about my Chorus BB, which had to be replaced at 4 years. The local pro
> shop said that wasn't atypical.
>
> b). If I went this way, I could even get the complete new compact groupset,
> which while expensive certainly is a proportionally better deal than just the
> front powertrain components. What's the difference between Record and Chorus
> these days? I know about the titanium cogs on the cassette, which probably
> isn't great for wear (correct?), but don't comprehend what the $$$ get me on
> the Record.
>
> c). I'm in no rush; is there anything coming out in the 2008 line that might
> be interesting?
>
> Thanks for any info.
>
> Art

I've got a 50-34 and an 11-25 on my Guerciotti, in Veloce. I'm really
happy with the gearing choices. I end up with a higher high (120") and
about the same low (35") as on my Peugeot with a 53-39 and 13-29, but
smaller steps in between, due to less overlap in the middle, and
mostly half-steps, so double-shifting can give you some combos unique
to each ring.

Guerciotti 34 47.10% 50
11 81.2 119.5
9.10%
12 74.5 109.5
8.30%
13 68.7 101.1
7.70%
14 63.8 93.9
7.10%
15 59.6 87.6
13.30%
17 52.6 77.3
11.80%
19 47 69.2
10.50%
21 42.5 62.6
9.50%
23 38.8 57.1
8.70%
25 35.7 52.6


In my experience, the CT FD is crap. I couldn't get it to shift to the
big ring worth beans, even putting the limit screw out far enough to
worry about the crankarm hitting the cage. I switched to a regular
double FD and it shifts great. The main change to Campy's 2008 groups
is going with a single FD for both compact and regular doubles. I'll
bet that it owes more to the design of the standard double FD than the
compact. The short cage RD works fine with this setup.

With that in mind, you could just get the crank/BB cups, a cassette
(and probably a chain) and you'd be set.

As for cassette models, well, it's a consumable. I prefer cheap.
Veloce is only 40g heavier than Centaur, at 2/3 the price. Record, on
the other hand, is twice the price of Centaur, and only 10g lighter,
and will last half as long. Centaur seems like a good deal if you want
light. I only use Veloce cassettes, even on my otherwise Centaur bike.

Ultratorque has worked fine for me so far. It's very slightly stiffer
than square taper, and the hirth joint is visible from the star-shaped
cutout in the BB shell of my Guerciotti - Way cool. I have no
complaints with square taper, though.

Check out the prices at http://www.probikekit.com. They're hella cheap
for Campy stuff, because they're in England, and they ship to the US
for free. Also check ebay for auctions by eurobikeparts. I got my
Veloce group from them, and they have good prices and service.

[velodancer]

On Sep 6, 1:49 pm, art.shap...@unisys.com (Arthur Shapiro) wrote:

> rubbing me that right way as a way of getting a 15% lower low than my 39x25,
> which I'm sure will be adequate for anything I'm likely to climb.

YMMV, but a 15% lower gear is almost unnoticeable on a steep road for
average riders. If you are trying to go really fast, it is noticeable.
But for average riders on a long grinding hill, you are going to wish
for several additional 15% shifts.

[Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com]

On Sep 6, 2:49 pm, art.shap...@unisys.com (Arthur Shapiro) wrote:
> A couple weeks ago I asked about the best way of getting some lower gears on
> my Campy Chorus/Record setup, in order to more comfortably / less agonizingly
> tackle some truly grotesque climbs. I got a lot of intelligent responses
> pointing out the good and bad things about a bigger rear cluster, a triple,
> and a compact crank.
>
> I was reluctant to go with the compact because the only cassette with a 25
> large had only a 12 small cog, and I appreciate currently having a 53x12, even
> if it doesn't get used that much. A 50x12 wouldn't cut it for me.
>
> All changed last Sunday when a new Campy Serotta appeared on my club ride,
> complete with a 11x25 cluster that I had no idea existed. My eyes grew wide.
>
> This was also my first view of that newfangled Ultra-Torque BB. This is
> rubbing me that right way as a way of getting a 15% lower low than my 39x25,
> which I'm sure will be adequate for anything I'm likely to climb.
>
> I guess some questions to the Campy mavens are:
>
> a). what's the scuttlebutt on the Ultra Torque - legitimately decent product,
> bad news gimmick, or just another way of attacking a problem? I'm kind of
> angry about my Chorus BB, which had to be replaced at 4 years. The local pro
> shop said that wasn't atypical.

Couldn't sell square taper BBs, so Campag came up with htis version of
external bearing BB/crank. Works well, similar stiffness on each
pedal, unlike othjer systems that have the left arm attach at the end.
Answers no question, solves no [problem with regerence to square
taper. 4 years for a BB? Not bad..about $25 per year, pennies per
month..nothing to get angry about. The days of long lasting BBs are
gone, have been for decades.

>
> b). If I went this way, I could even get the complete new compact groupset,
> which while expensive certainly is a proportionally better deal than just the
> front powertrain components. What's the difference between Record and Chorus
> these days?

Crank is hollow for Record..ti bits in other places..remove the ti,
foam fill the crank=Chorus.

I know about the titanium cogs on the cassette, which probably
> isn't great for wear (correct?), but don't comprehend what the $$$ get me on
> the Record.

See above. Chorus is a bertter value..same stuff, just no ti, a wee
bit less carbon(RD and FD cage).
>
> c). I'm in no rush; is there anything coming out in the 2008 line that might
> be interesting?

One FD for standard and compact, carbon crank for Centaur, more silly
wheels is all.
>
> Thanks for any info.
>
> Art

[A R:nen]

Hank Wirtz <hank@wirtznet.net> writes:

> As for cassette models, well, it's a consumable. I prefer cheap.
> Veloce is only 40g heavier than Centaur, at 2/3 the price.

Mirage is even cheaper and identical with Veloce except for the
surface treatment of the cogs, which I believe in this case only makes
a cosmetic difference (and even that only as new or properly scrubbed).