Question on Campy gruppos

Quoted message said:

If things go as planned, I'm going to get a frame next year and build
it up (right now the Gunnar Sport is looking good). I've never owned a
bike with anything but Shimano, but on this one I want to go Campy.
I've worked with machinery most of my life and know the value of
repairability and availability of spare parts. Also I like their cable
routing better since I often use a handlebar bag.

What I need to figure out is which gruppo to get. Record and Chorus
are beyond my budget, I'm thinking about either Centaur or Veloce.
Weight makes no difference to me, my weight problems are with the
rider, not the bike. I also don't mind sticking with a square taper
crank, that's all I've ever had and never had any trouble with them.

One other thing, if I do this myself, what special tools will I need?
I have bottom bracket and cassette tools for Shimano, will any of this
work with Campy? I've got a chain tool that works with Shimano and
SRAM and it seems like I read on here that it could be used with Campy
if I use a reconnectable type master link (which I prefer to).

Any additional advice is appreciated and thanks in advance for all
replies.

Smokey

Remaining square taper Campy cranks can be had on closeout right now,
but no guarantee how much longer. Deals on them are kinda the nuts
right now.

Campy cassette lockrings take different tools than Shimano. Most Campy
square BBs use the same tool as Campy cassette lockrings. Some Campy
square BBs use a different, 6-notch BB tool; I believe it's just
Mirage and Veloce currently. UT BBs use the same tools as all outboard
BBs with the Shimano-originated notch pattern. UT cranks also need a
way of getting a lot of torque on a deep recessed 8mm allen bolt.

Quoted message said:

If things go as planned, I'm going to get a frame next year and build
it up (right now the Gunnar Sport is looking good). I've never owned a
bike with anything but Shimano, but on this one I want to go Campy.
I've worked with machinery most of my life and know the value of
repairability and availability of spare parts. Also I like their cable
routing better since I often use a handlebar bag.

What I need to figure out is which gruppo to get. Record and Chorus
are beyond my budget, I'm thinking about either Centaur or Veloce.
Weight makes no difference to me, my weight problems are with the
rider, not the bike. I also don't mind sticking with a square taper
crank, that's all I've ever had and never had any trouble with them.

One other thing, if I do this myself, what special tools will I need?
I have bottom bracket and cassette tools for Shimano, will any of this
work with Campy? I've got a chain tool that works with Shimano and
SRAM and it seems like I read on here that it could be used with Campy
if I use a reconnectable type master link (which I prefer to).

Any additional advice is appreciated and thanks in advance for all
replies.

Smokey

My direct experience with modern Campy stuff is limited to 2005-ish
Centaur, Chorus, Veloce, and Mirage. If weight is not an Issue, I'd
say Centaur is not worth it. I'd go for Veloce or more likely Mirage.

The only reason I don't have a Mirage equipped bike is I don't like
the shape of the Ergos.

Joseph

Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com said:

Get 2008 Veloce or Centaur and look for 2006 Centaur or Veloce ERGO
levers. MUCH better innards than the design they are using for Centaur
and below for 2007/8...

Agree Centaur 06 is very nice.

BB: exelent, The same tried and tested 3 bearing design as
Corus/Record of the last 15 years - however with a longer axle.

Calipers: Packs even more stopping power than the skeloton calipers.
Brake shoes are the same as in Chorus/Record (however Centaur only
uses brushed bearrings in the calipers)

Front deraliur: fine, steel cage which will last forever compared to
carbon/aluminum.

Rear deraliur: fine, shifts just as nice as current chorus/record.

Ergo's: exelent, non-indexed front shifting and multiple rear shifting
and ballbearings as on current Record/Chorus. (however carbon levers
is a very good idea in cold weather or when decenting from +2000m)

Hubs: exelent, same ball bearing design as in Record since 1999.
current Centaur hubs uses cartrige bearings :-(

Chain: get one of the the newer ultra narrow chains instead.

Casette: same as Chorus, only e tiny bit heavier due to other spacers.

Garniture: Nice forged UD chainrings (however not the beautyfull
spider with the hidden 5th arm as in Record/Chorus)

--
Morten Reippuert Knudsen :-) <http://blog.reippuert.dk>

Merlin Works CR-3/2.5 & Campagnolo Chorus 2007.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If things go as planned, I'm going to get a frame next year and build
it up (right now the Gunnar Sport is looking good). I've never owned a
bike with anything but Shimano, but on this one I want to go Campy.
I've worked with machinery most of my life and know the value of
repairability and availability of spare parts. Also I like their cable
routing better since I often use a handlebar bag.

What I need to figure out is which gruppo to get. Record and Chorus
are beyond my budget, I'm thinking about either Centaur or Veloce.
Weight makes no difference to me, my weight problems are with the
rider, not the bike. I also don't mind sticking with a square taper
crank, that's all I've ever had and never had any trouble with them.

One other thing, if I do this myself, what special tools will I need?
I have bottom bracket and cassette tools for Shimano, will any of this
work with Campy? I've got a chain tool that works with Shimano and
SRAM and it seems like I read on here that it could be used with Campy
if I use a reconnectable type master link (which I prefer to).

Any additional advice is appreciated and thanks in advance for all
replies.

Smokey

Quoted message said:

My direct experience with modern Campy stuff is limited to 2005-ish
Centaur, Chorus, Veloce, and Mirage. If weight is not an Issue, I'd
say Centaur is not worth it. I'd go for Veloce or more likely Mirage.

My opinion on pre 07 centaur vs. Veloce:

Centauer hubs are better and easier to service.

Centaur bottombracket will last longer, especially on wet and salty
roads.

Centauer chainrings will last longer.

Centauer brake shoes are way better (and you don have to readjust them
when changeing the pads.

Ergo's shifts nicer after many years due to the use of ball bearrings
instead of brushed bearrings.

The rest is just about looks and weight.

--
Morten Reippuert Knudsen :-) <http://blog.reippuert.dk>

Merlin Works CR-3/2.5 & Campagnolo Chorus 2007.

Nate Knutson said:

Quoted message said:

If things go as planned, I'm going to get a frame next year and build
it up (right now the Gunnar Sport is looking good). I've never owned a
bike with anything but Shimano, but on this one I want to go Campy.
I've worked with machinery most of my life and know the value of
repairability and availability of spare parts. Also I like their cable
routing better since I often use a handlebar bag.

What I need to figure out is which gruppo to get. Record and Chorus
are beyond my budget, I'm thinking about either Centaur or Veloce.
Weight makes no difference to me, my weight problems are with the
rider, not the bike. I also don't mind sticking with a square taper
crank, that's all I've ever had and never had any trouble with them.

One other thing, if I do this myself, what special tools will I need?
I have bottom bracket and cassette tools for Shimano, will any of this
work with Campy? I've got a chain tool that works with Shimano and
SRAM and it seems like I read on here that it could be used with Campy
if I use a reconnectable type master link (which I prefer to).

Any additional advice is appreciated and thanks in advance for all
replies.

Smokey

Quoted message said:

Remaining square taper Campy cranks can be had on closeout right now,
but no guarantee how much longer. Deals on them are kinda the nuts
right now.

Quoted message said:

Campy cassette lockrings take different tools than Shimano. Most Campy
square BBs use the same tool as Campy cassette lockrings. Some Campy
square BBs use a different, 6-notch BB tool; I believe it's just
Mirage and Veloce currently. UT BBs use the same tools as all outboard
BBs with the Shimano-originated notch pattern. UT cranks also need a
way of getting a lot of torque on a deep recessed 8mm allen bolt.

05/06 centaur uses the lockring tool for the bottombracket.

--
Morten Reippuert Knudsen :-) <http://blog.reippuert.dk>

Merlin Works CR-3/2.5 & Campagnolo Chorus 2007.

Quoted message said:

If things go as planned, I'm going to get a frame next year and build
it up (right now the Gunnar Sport is looking good). I've never owned a
bike with anything but Shimano, but on this one I want to go Campy.
I've worked with machinery most of my life and know the value of
repairability and availability of spare parts. Also I like their cable
routing better since I often use a handlebar bag.

What I need to figure out is which gruppo to get. Record and Chorus
are beyond my budget, I'm thinking about either Centaur or Veloce.
Weight makes no difference to me, my weight problems are with the
rider, not the bike. I also don't mind sticking with a square taper
crank, that's all I've ever had and never had any trouble with them.

One other thing, if I do this myself, what special tools will I need?
I have bottom bracket and cassette tools for Shimano, will any of this
work with Campy? I've got a chain tool that works with Shimano and
SRAM and it seems like I read on here that it could be used with Campy
if I use a reconnectable type master link (which I prefer to).

Any additional advice is appreciated and thanks in advance for all
replies.

Smokey

Get 2008 Veloce or Centaur and look for 2006 Centaur or Veloce ERGO
levers. MUCH better innards than the design they are using for Centaur
and below for 2007/8...

Need the BB cup wrench and a long 10mm allen for the crank
bolt..otherwise just standard tools.

Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com said:

Quoted message said:

If things go as planned, I'm going to get a frame next year and build
it up (right now the Gunnar Sport is looking good). I've never owned a
bike with anything but Shimano, but on this one I want to go Campy.
I've worked with machinery most of my life and know the value of
repairability and availability of spare parts. Also I like their cable
routing better since I often use a handlebar bag.

Quoted message said:

What I need to figure out is which gruppo to get. Record and Chorus
are beyond my budget, I'm thinking about either Centaur or Veloce.
Weight makes no difference to me, my weight problems are with the
rider, not the bike. I also don't mind sticking with a square taper
crank, that's all I've ever had and never had any trouble with them.

Quoted message said:

One other thing, if I do this myself, what special tools will I need?
I have bottom bracket and cassette tools for Shimano, will any of this
work with Campy? I've got a chain tool that works with Shimano and
SRAM and it seems like I read on here that it could be used with Campy
if I use a reconnectable type master link (which I prefer to).

Quoted message said:

Any additional advice is appreciated and thanks in advance for all
replies.

Quoted message said:

Smokey

Get 2008 Veloce or Centaur and look for 2006 Centaur or Veloce ERGO
levers. MUCH better innards than the design they are using for Centaur
and below for 2007/8...

Need the BB cup wrench and a long 10mm allen for the crank
bolt..otherwise just standard tools.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

That's what I did on my current bike - bought an '07 Veloce group,
tried the new brifters, didn't like how they lacked loud, tactile
clicks, got a pair of '06 Centaurs on closeout and resold the '07
Veloces. Other than the new "Escape Mechanism" in the brifters, new
Veloce's great. And UT BB cups use the same tool as most other brands
of outboard BB bearings.

Morten Reippuert Knudsen said:

The rest is just about looks and weight.

And if weight is a concern, Centaur is generally the best choice from
a value for money point of view. For almost all components, up until
Centaur a gram saved costs less than one euro, whereas after that the
price/weight differential skyrockets to typically 2--4 euro per gram.
(Yes, I just *had* to make that spreadsheet...)