Bicycle Mechanics - Campy Cassette Question

I think I know the answer but I thought I'd ask anyway. I want to buy a 10 speed 13-29 cassette and can choose to spend about $70 on a Veloce, $110 on a Centaur, and $130 on a Chorus. My question is are there any significant weight, quality or performance differences between them? Some of you guys know a lot more about Campy than I do. Thanks guys.

I think I know the answer but I thought I'd ask anyway. I want to buy a 10 speed 13-29 cassette and can choose to spend about $70 on a Veloce, $110 on a Centaur, and $130 on a Chorus. My question is are there any significant weight, quality or performance differences between them? Some of you guys know a lot more about Campy than I do. Thanks guys.

1. You want to order your Campagnolo cassettes from the UK where they're a lot less expensive ($45 for Veloce).

2. The weight difference doesn't matter except for bragging rights or when you're a 145 pound climber atop a 15 pound bike racing off the front to an up-hill finish where it saves seconds. A full hundred grams would net you five seconds an hour there, although in this case Veloce (270g for a 12-25) is only costing you one second an hour compared to Centaur (250g), two seconds compared to Chorus (230g) and 3.5 versus Record (200g). If you're not built for climbing the differences are smaller and you're not going to win so it doesn't matter.

3. Current Veloce cassettes are galvanized vs. nickel chrome for the better cassettes (the split used to be at the Mirage/Xenon level). For the nickel chrome cassettes the quality is identical. The tooth configuration and shifting are identical. Record (except full titanium), Chorus, Centaur, and older Veloce small cogs are all the same nickel-chrome plated steel parts. Record/Chorus cassettes have the 2 (as in 4 cogs for the 11-21 and 11-23) or 3 (6 cogs, all other combinations) largest cog pairs mounted on aluminum carriers, Centaur/Daytona put the two largest cogs on a carrier except for the 2010 model year where they're all loose, and Veloce is all loose cogs. Record used titanium for the four largest cogs and had a full titanium option.

I used a Chorus 10-speed cassette for several thousand miles (came with the build kit) and replaced it with a Veloce (my money this time) and, other than a few grams, I've seen absolutely no difference in shifting or durability. Unless weight is a big issue and you've money to burn, get the Veloce.

Drew is also correct about UK- sourcing. I bought my last Veloce cassette from Wiggle (www.wiggle.co.uk) and the cost was about half of what Licktons in Chicago was asking and Licktons is cheaper than most US dealers for Campy components. They will quote in US dollars and shipping is free if you spend over about $80.

Miche makes a full range of Campy 10 and 11 compatible cassettes. They're very good, nickel plated and shift as well as Campy.
All the cogs are individual and replaceable separately.