Re: Campy Ergo Mix with Ultegra ?s

Russell Seaton

David Patnaude <dmp-junkNOSPAM@comcast.net> wrote in message news:<Xns94C95DEC0E021dmpjunk@130.133.1.4>...
> I am thinking of switching parts of my current setup from Ultegra 9 spd
> triple to Campy due to breaking my front brifter. Campy stuff is not very
> common in my area (my local shop does almost no work on Campy components),
> but I like that I might be able to fix a problem next time rather than
> replace it.
>
> Questions:
>
> 1. Is the Campy ergo brifter indexed at all for the front shift and how
> well will it work for an Ultegra triple crank with Ultegra FD?


I use my 2002/2003 9 speed Centaur Ergo brake/shifter to shift a
Shimano 105 triple front derailleur. Campagnolo does not care what
front derailleur or crankset you use.


>
> 2. Current setup is a shimano 12-25 9 spd cassette with 30-42-52
> chainrings. Can I use the Campy medium cage RD?


Some will say you can use a Shimano 9 speed cassette with Campagnolo
shifters and rear derailleur. Others will say you will have troubles.
I can't say because I only use Campagnolo for my road racing style
bikes. I don't need to mix cassettes and shifters and rear
derailleurs.


>
> 3. My bike is a Cannondale CAAD5 frame. It has inline barrel adjusters for
> the FD and RD and just basic cable stops on the frame. Can I still use
> these inline adjusters with the ergo levers?
>
> 4. One dislike I have of the Ultegra setup is that from the drops I have
> some difficulty moving the large lever enough for a shift. I don't think
> that my hands are very small, but the arc of the lever really gets away
> from you on the shift. From the hoods, no issue. Small lever from the
> drops, no issue. Will the ergo method of shifting help?


The handlebar shape may have as much to do with this as anything else.
Some bars put your hands closer to the shifters than others. But my
hands are far less than large and I can easily shift the rear
derailleur up or down from the drops. I also use a double layer of
cork tape so my hands are not as close as they could be to the
shifters. The downshift button with Campagnolo is very easy to reach
with your thumb if you have shallow drop bars. For bars with a huge
amount of drop, I don't know since I don't use these types of bars.
For shifting up with the lever, its easy to do with the rear
derailleur from the drops. For the front derailleur, shifts from big
to smaller chainring are easy to do with the button. Easy to reach
with your thumb while riding the drops. For shifting from a small to
a big chainring, using the lever, I cannot do it in one swing. I have
to ratchet the front derailleur up. So it takes two quick switches on
the lever to move to a bigger ring if shifting from the drops. Not a
problem because of the ratchet feature of Campagnolo Ergo shifters.
You don't have to shove the lever all the way in one throw to get to
the click, like Shimano. You can ratchet the Campagnolo front
derailleur up in 10 lever throws if you want. Or one throw if your
pointer finger is long enough. A huge benefit of not having an
indexed front derailleur shifter like Shimano. And trimming the front
derailleur is so easy with Campagnolo. All shifts from the hoods, up
or down, either derailleur, are very easy to make.


>
> 5. I am thinking of going with Centaur group if I switch since that seems
> on the level with Ultegra. Can someone provide the part numbers for the 9
> spd shifters and med cage RD so that I make sure the shop orders the right
> parts?


I mail ordered my 9 speed Centaur shifters from Excel Sports last
year. And my Centaur 9 speed derailleurs from Nashbar last year.
Mail order places may know more about which parts to get than your
local shop if you have to tell your local shop which part numbers to
order. I don't see the point in going through the local shop if they
provide no service or help with the order.

>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Dave