Want Campy groupset opinions

Centaur is the "best value" in the Campy lineup. Centaur rear hub has
Record innards (bearings/cones). Although Centaur ergo lever has
"bushings" instead of "ball bearings," I bet you can't feel any
difference.

I would get the Centaur compact over any of Campy's carbon cranks
because of 2 reasons:

1) the cost of campy carbon cranks are outrageous and,
2) campy carbon cranks have a weird offset chainring bolt pattern. The
aluminum Centaur, as well as Veloce and Mirage, compact cranks have the
standard 110bcd, good stuff. In contrast, the carbon compact cranks
have 4 bolt holes at 110bcd and one at 112bcd. Yes, you can modify a
110bcd chainring to fit the 112 bolt pattern, but still, its pretty
idiotic.

Save you money and get Centaur!

Dan said:

I am picking components for a new road bike. I have always been happy
with Campy components so I will stay with them. I think I will be
getting a Centaur compact double groupset. My current bike is a Centaur
triple. Centaur seems like a good balance between cost and performance.
The only troubles with my current bike have been a rear shifter cable
that breaks a strand and pokes me in the finger once in a while and
bottom bracket bearings that wore out in about 8000 miles.

I am looking for opinions and hope none of you get to squabbling with
each other.

1) Is it worth going to a carbon crankset? I am inclined to think not.

2) Are there any specific components that would be worth upgrading to
Chorus or Record?

OK, my opinion, covering both 1) and 2) above:

If we can assume that function is your main priority, then I believe
that neither carbon nor Record/Chorus will give you any advantage
whatsoever.

That said, I went from Veloce everthing to Record everything, piece by
piece. I love the feel of the componentry and the look of all that black
plastic stuff on the levers and derailleur cages, as well as the
"titanium" labels. Now I have absolutely no excuse but to continue to
train my [censored] off to make sure *I'm* worthy of the bike.

In terms of weight, my bike and I have lost the same amount,
percentagewise. And, for some reason, having invested in this
extravagance, I ride a lot more. In that sense, it's all worth it.

/Robert

Dan said:

1) Is it worth going to a carbon crankset? I am inclined to think not.

Absolutely not, unless you think they look a lot nicer on your bike.

Quoted message said:

2) Are there any specific components that would be worth upgrading to
Chorus or Record?

Not really, functionally. The derailers and brakes in Centaur are just
as good. The bottom bracket is of same level of quality, just a bit
heavier. The cranks are just as good with Record-level chainrings. The
hubs, front and rear, have same innards as Chorus and Record. Centaur
cassette is slightly heavier but just as good otherwise.

Chorus and Record levers have ball bearing pivots while Centaur levers
do not, but I don't really notice any real difference between the
Centaur and Chorus levers that I have mounted on my bikes. Again, only
worth the upgrade if you think the carbon fibre is very attractive.

In general, I think it's better to ask if there are any specific
components where Veloce would do the trick just as well. Veloce and
Centaur are both great deals for the money.

-as

Dan said:

I am picking components for a new road bike. I have always been happy
with Campy components so I will stay with them. I think I will be
getting a Centaur compact double groupset. My current bike is a Centaur
triple. Centaur seems like a good balance between cost and performance.
The only troubles with my current bike have been a rear shifter cable
that breaks a strand and pokes me in the finger once in a while and
bottom bracket bearings that wore out in about 8000 miles.

I am looking for opinions and hope none of you get to squabbling with
each other.

1) Is it worth going to a carbon crankset? I am inclined to think not.

Not unless you want the carbon look. Then its worth it.

Quoted message said:

2) Are there any specific components that would be worth upgrading to
Chorus or Record?

I have Chorus shifters and Centaur shifters. Ball bearings and
bushings. They feel different. But they are different years and
different amounts of usage. On the new bike I bought Record shifters.
I wanted the best. And the extra $100 over Veloce shifters was worth
it to me.

Other parts on the new bike are mainly picked due to cost. Veloce rear
derailleur because I just could not see paying an extra $100 for the
rear derailleur. Veloce front derailleur for same cost reason, about
$50 difference. Brakes will be Veloce due to cost. Extra $90 for
Chorus calipers doesn't seem worth it. Crank is Race Face Turbine LP
with 94mm bcd double so I can run 48-30 rings. Record hubs due to
Performance selling Open Pro/Record wheels for much less than the cost
of parts. No option to get cheaper hubs but for $260 delivered, the
cost is more than reasonable.

Bottom bracket may be the only thing to upgrade. Centaur now has two
bottom brackets. One is similar to the Chorus/Record and uses its
installation tool. The other is the older AC-H which uses the awful
Park tooth tool. $50 compared to $20 cost. May not really be worth it
except when installing the thing. I have many thousands of miles on my
AC-H bottom bracket.

Honestly, if you insist on a 110 bcd crankset, there is no choice but
to stick the with centaur aluminum compact crank. If you want
something better, like a lower the Q-factor or to get a lighter campy
bottom bracket, you would screw yourself by going to campy chorus or
record compact cranks.

campy compact in chorus and record have the weirdo 5th chainring bolt
which is 112 bcd and which makes the rings horribly expensive and
locks you into a single supplier - this would truly be detrimental to
your drivetrain's expected lifetime.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

Quoted message said:

The other is the older AC-H which uses the awful Park tooth tool.

In the 2006 range the AC-H is no more. There are Mirage (SC-S) and
Veloce (AC-S) bottom brackets though, which use the same interface.
They can be installed with any tool you choose to buy. The Tacx tool is
excellent, as it attaches to the thread of the bottom bracket spindle
and can't slip. In fact they are the best affordable BB tools no matter
what you choose to go with.

I also have about 25,000 km on an AC-H bottom bracket and it's still
going strong. Not a bad deal for 10 euros.

Tacx T-4425 tool: http://www.bike-components.de/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=841

-as

Dan said:

I am picking components for a new road bike. I have always been happy
with Campy components so I will stay with them. I think I will be
getting a Centaur compact double groupset. My current bike is a Centaur
triple. Centaur seems like a good balance between cost and performance.
The only troubles with my current bike have been a rear shifter cable
that breaks a strand and pokes me in the finger once in a while and
bottom bracket bearings that wore out in about 8000 miles.

I am looking for opinions and hope none of you get to squabbling with
each other.

1) Is it worth going to a carbon crankset? I am inclined to think not.

I don't think so, any carbon crank. Lots of $, less crash worthiness.

Quoted message said:

2) Are there any specific components that would be worth upgrading to
Chorus or Record?

Just the BB to a new for 2005, triple bearing Centaur BB, rather than
the AC-H. I would also spec Veloce cogset, cheaper, teeny bit heavier
than Centaur, all loose cogs.

bfd said:

Centaur is the "best value" in the Campy lineup. Centaur rear hub has
Record innards (bearings/cones). Although Centaur ergo lever has
"bushings" instead of "ball bearings," I bet you can't feel any
difference.

I would get the Centaur compact over any of Campy's carbon cranks
because of 2 reasons:

1) the cost of campy carbon cranks are outrageous and,

I agree but a look at some of the carbon crank offerings today, like
from FSA highest end, Zipp, Zerograv, others, Campagnolo Record and
Chorus are not that expensive. Zipp crank and BB(ISIS to boot) push
$lots, . Zero gravity as well. At least Campag has better BBs(than FSA)
and much better rings.

Quoted message said:

2) campy carbon cranks have a weird offset chainring bolt pattern. The
aluminum Centaur, as well as Veloce and Mirage, compact cranks have the
standard 110bcd, good stuff. In contrast, the carbon compact cranks
have 4 bolt holes at 110bcd and one at 112bcd. Yes, you can modify a
110bcd chainring to fit the 112 bolt pattern, but still, its pretty
idiotic.

Save you money and get Centaur!

On 27 Feb 2006 16:57:03 -0800, [email hidden] (Donald Gillies)

Quoted message said:

Honestly, if you insist on a 110 bcd crankset, there is no choice but
to stick the with centaur aluminum compact crank. If you want
something better, like a lower the Q-factor or to get a lighter campy
bottom bracket, you would screw yourself by going to campy chorus or
record compact cranks.

I use a Sugino XD crank on a Campy 111 bb. The chainline is fine. I
know it is putting a JIS crank on an ISO bb but it's worked for years.