Has Ullrich commented on using Shimano for the first time this coming season? Do you think a custom lever hood design will be created, given his preference for old-style Campag levers?
Ullrich & Shimano
- Thread starter GuyStevens
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ON Ulrichs homepage there are pictures of him moving out of his house in Germany last year. You can see boxes of bikes one marked... 17 ! I´m sure he has one with shimano.
Preference and preference.... I´m guessing his preference is a big fat check, otherwise he would never have signed with coast last year...
That said the new T-mobile bike is sweet looking uhm uhm
I wasn't suggesting he would ride Campag, rather that Shimano might produce a modified lever hood for him. The 10spd Dura-Ace levers have less curvature to them than previous (they look like the pre-'97 shape to me).
Ullrich must have a strong preference for hood shape. At Telecom, Coast and Bianchi he persisted with an older style hood on 10spd.
Ullrich must have a strong preference for hood shape. At Telecom, Coast and Bianchi he persisted with an older style hood on 10spd.
Guy --
I noticed that as well -- they must have even made him custom carbon levers, since thay were the pre-2000 shape, and these were never made as a carbon part...
Also, did you notice in Cycle Sport, one of the Telekom / Giant people saying "Campagnolo weren't interested in supplying groupsets for the new bikes" (or something)?
Translation:
"Campagnolo wouldn't give us the kit for free"
What part of Wales are you from? I'm off down the velodrome tonight!
I noticed that as well -- they must have even made him custom carbon levers, since thay were the pre-2000 shape, and these were never made as a carbon part...
Also, did you notice in Cycle Sport, one of the Telekom / Giant people saying "Campagnolo weren't interested in supplying groupsets for the new bikes" (or something)?
Translation:
"Campagnolo wouldn't give us the kit for free"
What part of Wales are you from? I'm off down the velodrome tonight!
Hi timdanaher, I'm from Abergavenny so pretty close to the velodrome. Wouldn't mind giving the track a go but cyclo-cross has kept me busy this winter and now I'm thinking of the coming road season!
I think you're correct about the custom Campag lever blade for Ullrich. I guess we'll see what Shimano comes up with when he returns to racing next month.
I think you're correct about the custom Campag lever blade for Ullrich. I guess we'll see what Shimano comes up with when he returns to racing next month.
I guess it just goes to show - Campy or Shimano - the pros don't care, they ride what they are given.
After all, the determining factor is THE ENGINE - the pros accept that, perhaps that's part of what makes them pros - they can focus on what REALLY makes the difference.
After all, the determining factor is THE ENGINE - the pros accept that, perhaps that's part of what makes them pros - they can focus on what REALLY makes the difference.
Ullrich clearly doesn't ride what he is given, otherwise he would have kept the standard Campag levers when at Telecom/Coast/Bianchi.
Of course, the engine is what matters but I just wanted some more info on this equipment curiosity and what, if anything, Shimano would produce for him.
Everyone knows its the engine that matters, BUT enjoying the equipment is something that I'm pretty sure everyone enjoys.Its one of the fantastic things about cycling, the fusion between the body and machine make it so enjoyable.To make specialist hoods just for Ullrich is going to be interesting as its going to be so obvious to everyone that his equipment is different.
You also need to consider that pros equipment is cleaned and adjusted daly by expert mechanics. What matter for most of us here is how well the stuff works over the long run with minimal adjustment. Jan may prefer Campy stuff, but its not much of a problem for him if they can get the Shimano stuff to work properly for the duration of a stage.
I have a friend who rides for Rabobank and the other day I asked him how he feels about Shimano and Campy. He has been using 04 Shimano since the start of last year and he said that it is the best group he has used. Not that it really matters what he thinks but I think that it is interesting. He has been a pro for 10 years now.
Jan does not prefer Campy at all. People on this thread think that he Campagnolo created a custom hood/lever for him. Not true. Jan's mechanic used to put the older model Campy Record levers on Jan's bike because Jan liked the beefier hoods better. See some old Cyclesport magazines and look at the photos closely. Jan does not prefer Campy and is very happy with the new Shimano saying that it is a lot easier to shift and brake. ProCycling or one of those international mags (I'm in the US) had a preview of new components for the pros so I think it will be in one of the new Spring magazines coming out.
I didn't create this thread to intimate that Ullrich preferred Campag to Shimano or vice-versa. What he DOES prefer is a specific hood shape, as evidenced with him persisting with an older hood design when riding Campag.
As stated elsewhere, Campag did create a custom lever for him: it was effectively an updated 10spd, carbon version of the older model.
The Procycling magazine article about T-Mobile does not quote Ullrich and I haven't read anything about his opinions on riding Shimano or 10spd Dura-Ace's shallower hood shape (in comparison to older Campag).
As stated elsewhere, Campag did create a custom lever for him: it was effectively an updated 10spd, carbon version of the older model.
The Procycling magazine article about T-Mobile does not quote Ullrich and I haven't read anything about his opinions on riding Shimano or 10spd Dura-Ace's shallower hood shape (in comparison to older Campag).
I could care less what Jan likes or does not like. The point I was making is that the pros equipment is tuned to perfection daily. Most of us on this board are not so lucky. What is important to most of us is durability and ease of adjustment. Pros don't have either of these concerns. They are only unhappy with their equipment if it breaks or does not perform during the race. David Milllar's chain problems during the TdF prolog are a case in point. He was ****** that his team was not using Campy chain rings for the race.
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