Bicycle Mechanics - Campy 9-speed shift levers compatible with 10 speed derailleur?

Does anyone know if my Campy record titanium 9-speed brifters will work with a new 10-speed long cage rear derailleur? Also, will they work with a 1996 race triple long cage rear derailleur (which I see from the campy only timeline must be 8-speed) ?

I don't know the answer but have a similar question about Ultegra 9 speed shifters working with a 10 gear cassette. I think they're probably not compatible but want to find out for sure. Is there anything to be gained from converting a 9 speed triple to a 10 speed compact double?

I'm pretty sure your 9 campy brifters will work with a 10, but it seems they did something around 2001 that changed. Hopefully your 9 is newer than that. It definitely will not work with an older 8 speed RD.

10 speed derailluers will only work with 10 speed shifters. there are also pre-2001 8/9 and post 2001 8/9 spacing.

But you still have luck. You can change the index gear in your shifter and convert it to 10 speed.

I don't know the answer but have a similar question about Ultegra 9 speed shifters working with a 10 gear cassette. I think they're probably not compatible but want to find out for sure.
Jtek Engineering makes a Shiftmate that will allow 9-speed Shimano shifters to operate with a 10-speed Shimano cassette but, of course, you loose the use of one of the cogs. Since cassettes are the cheapest part of any driveline I see no reason to do it.


Is there anything to be gained from converting a 9 speed triple to a 10 speed compact double?
Probably not unless you are put-off by a triple for some reason. The 9 and 10-speed road cassettes are available in pretty much the same overall cog range and a triple crank covers a wider gear range than any compact.

Got it-- found the index gear part by googling it. Does anyone know if there's an identification on the brifter that indicates what year it was made?

Does anyone know if my Campy record titanium 9-speed brifters will work with a new 10-speed long cage rear derailleur?

Yes, post 2000 9 sp and all 10 sp derailleurs will work with a 9 sp brifter. They pull the same amount of cable. The problem is that the spacers on the jockey wheels are narrower on the 10 sp than on a 9 sp. You might have to use a 10 sp chain or replace the pulleys with 9 sp.


Also, will they work with a 1996 race triple long cage rear derailleur (which I see from the campy only timeline must be 8-speed) ?

Yes, they will work with 8 sp if you replace the carrier and Ergo gear with an 8 sp. Current Campy, 2006 and earlier round top brifters are backwards compatible all the way to 8 sp. The earlier pointy version can run 8, early 9 and post 2000 9 sp. They can't be made to handle 10 sp. I hope that helps. Good luck on the conversion.

Tim