Bicycle Mechanics - Campy Shifter Compatibility Question

I have a nice set of 9 speed Centaur shifters that came off of a bike with a triple setup. Could these shifters be used in a double setup with a 9-speed Centaur/Chorus group? Any problems or issues I should be aware of? Thanks for any info!

If you go here http://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/doc/doccatid_3.jsp and open part A, there are compatibility charts at the end. However, they are rather complex. I googled a bit and did not find a simple compatibility chart. Perhaps someone can simplify the Campy one and it could be stickied as this question comes up quite a bit (or link to an existing chart).

AFAIK, all Campy Ergo brifters are both double and triple compatible.

That's another thing Campy is better than Shimano: there is no distinction between double and triple.
Campy has gazillon shift points across the whole front derailleur shift range. Finer adjustment and more forgiving.

Campy has gazillon shift points across the whole front derailleur shift range. Finer adjustment and more forgiving.
Correct , right up until the '07 introduction of "QS" brifters. Centaur and below now have "Escapement" front shifting which is very much like Shimano, i.e. one click drops you from the big ring to the middle/inner and there are very limited trim positions.

They do retain the double/triple compatibility, which is odd since Campy doesn't have triple crank options for any of its better lines of components. They have, theoretically, specific triple groups but no one seems to carry them and Campy sure doesn't emphasize their avaiability.

BTW, Record and Chorus QS brifters do retain the "micro shifting" front shifting so if you want it, plan on buying the higher ($$$) line stuff.

wow, good to know about the escapement shifting on some lower models. I thought Campy was using the same
rachting parts for left and right. It must be a cost saving and model differentiation thing.

I have a nice set of 9 speed Centaur shifters that came off of a bike with a triple setup. Could these shifters be used in a double setup with a 9-speed Centaur/Chorus group? Any problems or issues I should be aware of? Thanks for any info!

In 2001 Campy changed the cable pull on their shifters and throw ratio on the rear derailleur. The early 9-speed shifters and rear derailleurs are not cross-compatible with the later shifters or derailluers. I don't know how to tell the difference by looking. Check with Branford Bikes.

Edit: Here is some info from the official Campy website, see tables 30 and 31 http://www.campagnolo.com/repository/documenti/en/spares01-A.pdf

Al

They do retain the double/triple compatibility, which is odd since Campy doesn't have triple crank options for any of its better lines of components. They have, theoretically, specific triple groups but no one seems to carry them and Campy sure doesn't emphasize their avaiability.


Lick Bikes sells the Comp components which is Campy's higher triple line. I just bought a Comp front derailleur to go with a Record triple group. I'm changing bikes and the new one has a different seat tube diameter.

Lick Bikes sells the Comp components which is Campy's higher triple line. I just bought a Comp front derailleur to go with a Record triple group. I'm changing bikes and the new one has a different seat tube diameter.
Thanks for the lead. I'm familiar with Licktons but haven't looked at their Campy stuff recently.

I guess my point was that Campy used to offer triple cranks, long cage rear derailleurs and triple compatible front derailleurs through out their lines from Record on down. Then, in '07 they discontinued all of the triple options in the "name" groups and introduced a couple of triple-specific lines that they seem to treat as after-thoughts. What it think is ironic is that Record, Chorus, etc. brifters are triple compatible but they offer no triple components in these groups.

I guess my point was that Campy used to offer triple cranks, long cage rear derailleurs and triple compatible front derailleurs through out their lines from Record on down. Then, in '07 they discontinued all of the triple options in the "name" groups and introduced a couple of triple-specific lines that they seem to treat as after-thoughts. What it think is ironic is that Record, Chorus, etc. brifters are triple compatible but they offer no triple components in these groups.

I agree. They advertise the Comp group as being similar to Chorus/Record but I don't think the finish compares and they lack the CF parts. The medium cage Chorus/Record rear derailleurs work with triples and are still available.

I didn't really like putting on the Comp front derailleur with the Record group.