Road Cycling Essentials

ichabod crane · 29 Jul 2012 at 19:42

Saytan said:
most of the campagisti argue that chorus is the direct competitor to dura ace, which would make athena their ultegra competitor. I'm not so sure on that front, but there is no doubting that shimano stuff is heavy.

It would seem that way, Athena looks a safe bet.

George Hincapie · 29 Jul 2012 at 19:58

Saytan said:
most of the campagisti argue that chorus is the direct competitor to dura ace, which would make athena their ultegra competitor. I'm not so sure on that front, but there is no doubting that shimano stuff is heavy.

You can't really compare Campag & Shimano GS in that way. The Shimano GS are heavier, but you could get into silly arguments about which shifts better, which is more reliable etc etc etc until the cows come home.

You really can't go wrong with any of the modern GS brands.

Was discussing a very special new build with my LBS the other day and had a good play with the Super Record EPS GS. Beautiful doesn't even begin to cover it :eek:

George Hincapie · 29 Jul 2012 at 19:59

ichabod crane said:
Nice link, not a bad weight for what appears an entry level groupset!

Athena isn't entry level.

ichabod crane · 29 Jul 2012 at 20:01

George Hincapie said:
You really can't go wrong with any of the modern GS brands.

If that is the case then surely you can just compare them on their weight merits

ichabod crane · 29 Jul 2012 at 20:02

George Hincapie said:
Athena isn't entry level.

Whats below it then?

willems · 29 Jul 2012 at 20:05

ichabod crane said:
Whats below it then?

centaur and veloce i think

ichabod crane · 29 Jul 2012 at 20:06

willems said:
centaur and veloce i think

Ah they did not come up on my searches!

touch · 29 Jul 2012 at 20:07

The order of campag is:
Super Record
Record
Chorus
Athena
Centaur
Veloce

The main noticeable difference between shimano/campag is the shape of the levers/hoods. I prefer the chunkier feel of the shimano hoods, so i go for bikes with shimano groupsets.

George Hincapie · 29 Jul 2012 at 20:09

ichabod crane said:
Ah they did not come up on my searches!

http://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/groupsetcat/worlds_1.jsp

willems · 29 Jul 2012 at 20:12

going for veloce on my winter i think

George Hincapie · 29 Jul 2012 at 20:15

touch said:
The order of campag is:
Super Record
Record
Chorus
Athena
Centaur
Veloce

The main noticeable difference between shimano/campag is the shape of the levers/hoods. I prefer the chunkier feel of the shimano hoods, so i go for bikes with shimano groupsets.

And the fact that on Campag you use a button on the side of the lever to switch down and the level itself to shift up.

Nice actually.

George Hincapie · 29 Jul 2012 at 20:16

ichabod crane said:
If that is the case then surely you can just compare them on their weight merits

No. It's not that simple. They all have their slight quirks; you need to find the one that matches your soul.

Yes, I am that deep

touch · 29 Jul 2012 at 20:18

George Hincapie said:
you need to find the one that matches your soul.
Yes, I am that deep

...Sounds like you're a campag man then

George Hincapie · 29 Jul 2012 at 20:23

touch said:
...Sounds like you're a campag man then

I've got Shimano on both ATM, but Campag may well be in my future

Gribs · 29 Jul 2012 at 20:27

Shelster said:
Just a quick one.....as we seem to be in full on monsoon season in the UK (especially up here in Aberdeen), was looking to get some mudguards for my bike.

Would a set of these be suitable for my Specialized Secteur Elite '12 ?

They would but sks race blades are much more solid and work very well.

ichabod crane · 29 Jul 2012 at 20:44

touch said:
The order of campag is:
Super Record
Record
Chorus
Athena
Centaur
Veloce

The main noticeable difference between shimano/campag is the shape of the levers/hoods. I prefer the chunkier feel of the shimano hoods, so i go for bikes with shimano groupsets.

George Hincapie said:
No. It's not that simple. They all have their slight quirks; you need to find the one that matches your soul.

Yes, I am that deep

Having never owned a road bike I know very little about any of the components. But I have recently used two bikes one with Shimano (not sure which model) and the other Athena I have ruled the Shimano out because I struggled to get a good hold on the levers, they seemed to angle away from the drop bars and with my small hands made it difficult to use them without having my hands on the top of the bar, this was not present on the Athena, with identical bars on both.

willems · 29 Jul 2012 at 20:46

ichabod crane said:
Having never owned a road bike I know very little about any of the components. But I have recently used two bikes one with Shimano (not sure which model) and the other Athena I have ruled the Shimano out because I struggled to get a good hold on the levers, they seemed to angle away from the drop bars and with my small hands made it difficult to use them without having my hands on the top of the bar, this was not present on the Athena, with identical bars on both.

tried sram?

ichabod crane · 29 Jul 2012 at 20:49

willems said:
tried sram?

Nope I don't know anyone who has them to try and it would only complicate things further

and one of the bikes I have ridden is for sale so I am considering a purchase.

[DOD]Asprilla · 29 Jul 2012 at 21:11

Sram is where it's at.

[DOD]Asprilla · 29 Jul 2012 at 21:20

willems said:
speccing up my winter bike and dunno what to do with the cassette 12-25,13-26 or 13-29

leaning to 13-29 for the hills

anyone gone for hand built wheels? looking to use dcrwheels

Check you can fit that under your derailleur. With a short cage SRAM Force rear mech I can only go up to 27. I'd need a long cage Apex mech to get from 28 to 32.