Road Cycling - mostly a Campy question

I am extremely happy with my first road bike, a Chorus equipped Calfee. I would really like a 2nd bike to use on my bad weather commutes and especially to use on my indoor trainer over the winter.

I would like to have the same type of shifting meaning the ergo Campy system, but I don't need Chorus for a 2nd bike. Does all of the Campy line have the same ergo style of shifting? How long has Campy had this style, meaning if I went for a used bike what year did this style start?

Also, what makes a cyclocross bike different from my road bike? Is it just a slightly more relaxed position and room for bigger tires?

Thanks,
Mike

If you are looking for a budget campy group with all the goods then I would suggest the Centaur group. It is still 10 speed and has the look and feel of its Chorus and Record brothers with a little more weight and a lot less money. I have really enjoyed using it on my bike and have had great results. As for the cross bike question, they make great commuters since they are built a little tougher than a standard road bike. The larger tires also make for a smooth ride to work over those harsh city roads/sidewalks/alleyways etc. They ride much like a road bike with a little more upright geometry and some different brakes to make room for the tires.

-Ryan

I know the Ergos are at least 10 years old.......I still have my 8sp Record Ergos from 1992......the older they get, the smoother they become.

Cyclocross frames have bosses for cantis also.....

Older Campy levers have a different shape and are 8spd. The high end Chorus and Record 8spd are still nice, but it makes sense to use a modern mid-range gruppo.
CX make excellent training/utility bikes, but get one with practical features (fender and waterbottle threads). These are abscent on pure racing CX bikes as they collect mud.

All Campy groups, right across the line have the same levers. Moreover, in 2004, Campy is going 10-speed almost right across the line. Right now, Centaur is probably your best bet for a lower-end group, but Veloce is quite good as well.

Cyclocross bikes are similar to but different from road bikes in several ways:

- Fat nobby tires for off road riding.
- Wider stays and canti brakes to accommodate the fatter tires.
- Higher bottom bracket shell to clear obstacles.
- More relaxed geometry, but often with a shorter top tube for a more upright riding position.

They are the great all-around bikes.

Strange,the few cc bikes i looked at had bigger road tires,700X26/28.

Most of the cyclocross bikes that we sell are equipped with 30s and 35s. We stock some Tufo 28 cyclocross tubulars, but all the clinchers we sell are 30 and 35. On the other hand, even a knobby 28, caked with mud, wold have a bit of trouble with narrow road bike stays.