I went to my LBS today to pick up a few odds and ends and got into a conversation in which the shop guy told me he’s been selling a hell of lot more Campy lately than he used to. He said Campy is starting to really give Shimano a run for their money, which seems to be a shift from the norm. Anyone shifted from Shimano to Campy lately? I know there are the diehard Campy people, but I’m looking for someone who changed over in the last year or two, and why?
having ridden Dura Ace exclusively for about the last 22 years, I made the switch to Campy Chorus this year on my new road bike and will do the same with my new tri bike this Fall once it is finished.
THere were a couple of initial reasons I went to Campy on my road bike this time around. First of all I like the non cluttered look up front. All of the cables can be internally routed through the bars or at the least under the bar tape. I am tired of the Shimano shifter cables looping out front. Second reason was I liked the shifting mechanism on the brake levers better then Shimano’s STI shifting. Third was the brakes. I liked the new Campy Skeleton brakes. I have always thought that Shimano’s dual pivot brakes were overkill. In building up my new roadie, overall weight was somewhat of a consideration and I really liked the mix of carbon into the component group that Campy used. My girlfriend also made the switch as we both got new road bikes at the same time and she also got a new tri bike with Campy on it. THe only thing I would change on the set up for a tri bike is I wish they had better bar end shifters. Sctually nothing wrong with them, they shift really good, but I wish Campy would make a bar end shifter in carbon like the new SRAM shifters that are coming out. Maybe Campy already does?
Anyways, I give the switch to Campy two thumbs up.
What about the Campy setup allows you to route the cab les differently? Is it where the cable comes out of the shifter?
I put Campy Record 07 on my new road bike…Nice stuff. Mostly DA/Ult on the other bikes 3 tri, 3 road. My only issue is Campy is hard to find in a hurry.
I think my primary concern would be affording the tools to work on the bike. I do m ost of my own wrenching, but I think Campy tools are considerably more expensive.
Put campy record on my road bike. What I like:
- Trim front der. is better - a lot more positions.
- I like that the brake levers are not the shifters - just feels better. Brakes levers don’t wiggle…
- Front end much nicer/cleaner looking without the cables flying out. You look out over your bike and see nothing. Much nicer.
- Brake hoods are smaller and better looking. Shimano hoods are HUGE and UGLY in my opinion.
I don’t like that the brakes don’t have the little lever to open them up. I run specialized 25/23 tires and they are a tad fat and hard to squeeze in…
Dave
"I don’t like that the brakes don’t have the little lever to open them up. I run specialized 25/23 tires and they are a tad fat and hard to squeeze in… "
Why don’t you use the brake release button that’s built in to the brake lever?
an extra cassette lockring/bb tool is $8. Other than that, no new tools required (unless you consider their corkscrew a necessary item)
Plus, if your ergo lever ever DOES break, at least campy supplies small parts AND designs a overhaul-able shift lever.
But, campy in general, including little things like cassette lockrings, chains, cassettes are considerably more expensive
From talking with the sales reps for several bike shops, it seems that Campy is indeed gaining some ground on Shimano. Shimano still outsells Campy, but it may be one of the reasons that Shimano is pushing to release their Electronic shifting next year in the DA lineup. YMMV. I actually like SRAM the best, clean lines like Campy, but no funny thumb shifters, and being able to shift while in the drops and sprinting while clutching the bars tightly is a nice feature.
Dave
Why don’t you use the brake release button that’s built in to the brake lever? I need to have mine adjusted.
It’s not even debatable for road bikes - Campy is unambiguously more aethetic and comfortable. Shimano stuff works just fine, though.
For tri set up, I think there’s little difference, because the most important thing, the hoods/brakes/shifters goes away.
I just bought a Bianchi road bike with campy veloce, yes a Bianchi Veloce, steel is real, and I love the Campy brake hoods.I 'll never go back to Shimano. On my tri bike it’s not so much different I don’t think .
Two of my bikes are nearly full campy and I do all of my wrenching. And I own exactly ZERO Campagnolo brand tools. Campy is easily worked on with any brand of tool. Park makes Campy compatible BB, cassette, and other special tools for much less expensive.
I have various groups of Campy on my three road bikes (mid 70’s super record, 2003 record carbon and latest record carbon). The only Campy specific tools I had to buy were the BB tools for their new cranks.
I recently purchased a Cervelo P2C with Dura-Ace front/rear derailleurs and brakes. Does not seem as smooth as the Campy.
Thanks for all the input. I’m probably going to build up a new road bike this upcoming winter, probably based off of a Giant Advanced composite frame, and it sounds like it might be worth giving Campy a try. Maybe I’ll start looking now and pick up parts as they go on sale over the next few months.
I just picked up a new look and thinking that my other two bikes are shimano and this is after-all a euro bike I went record with some z-g’s that i had laying around. So can not speak to the brakes.
aside from the pointy end of the shifters record is flat out superior to shimano. reliability of shifts, smoothness, if you get some 07 the QS quick shift is pretty sweet- multiple jumps up and big dumps when the road goes up. being stealthy-- grabbing couple of gears to get the jump on someone is much easier.
it is sexy looking and functions great, Now i just want chris king to make campy compatable hub bodies.
K
Because I’m too stupid to know it existed…I’ll go look and play around a bit and see if I can figure it out. Maybe I should have read some of the instructions…
Dave