HillRider

I'm currently building a brand new bike and going to use a Campy Chorus 10-speed triple groupe. However, Campy has had less then stellar results with their last few chain designs and I was wondering what alternatives I should consider.

I'm not real thrilled with what i've heard about SRAM chains lately and I don't think they make a 10-speed chain yet so that leaves me with a couple of other choices to consider:

Wipperman has an excellent reputation and the Conex link is a plus but they are rather pricy.

Shimano chains are very familiar to me so they are an attractive possibility. I'm pretty sure a Shimano 10-speed chain will work but I've also heard Shimano 9-speed chains will work with Campy 10-speed cassettes. Anyone have any experience with this? A 9-speed Shimano chain would be a bit less expensive and, based on my experience, very durable.

jqnj

Wippy connex 10. They have two differrent models . The less expensive one is fine. They can be had for around 45 beans. I am running an Ultegra 10 speed chain with Sram 10 link on one of my Camapy 10 rigs right now. Seems ok. The Sram pc 89 hollow pin 9 speed chain works but is a bit noisier I found. Not sure how it would do on a triple, though. BTW, what is wrong with the Campy chains? I have two brandy new 10 speeders that I got a deal on. Wear?

HillRider

The original "Permalink" 10-speed design was badly flawed. It was very touchy about installation technique, required a very expensive specific tool and failures were numerous. There was an intermediate design that required a short section of chain with specific links that was also not very good. The current special pin design (ala Shimano) seems better but is still reputed to be difficult to install properly.

Campy makes a big thing about requiring their special (read expensive) chain tools so I feel sorry for the guys who bought the $80+ Permalink tool only to have it become obsolete a year later. I've been told a Park CT-3 works fine on the current design so I hope that's true.

Basically, Campy's history of chain design seems overly complicated and poorly thought out so I'm looking for something better. Campy makes some excellent components but chains don't seem to be one of them.

RockyMtnMerlin

I use the Wippermann 1008 (the less expensive one) on my Campy Record 10 speed UD rear cassette and have had absolutely no problems with it. Easy as heck to get off and clean too becuase of the Connex connector. Last year I even found them on sale for quite a bit less than mentioned above. They also make a stainless steel one and I think the Ti will also work (asuming you want to spend almost 300 beans for a chain)

edit I just googled around and they are on sale again. Lickbike.com

jqnj

Thanks for the heads up, hillrider. I will act as though I am performing open heart surgery when the Connex finally fails and it is time for the Campy chain to go on.

doco

Dura Ace 10sp will also work, but I just buy my campy and dura ace 10 sp chains from the online overseas stores. Also you can use a seperate wipperman connex link for the campy or dura chains.
I have never used a wipperman chain so I can't offer advice there.

jqnj

Doh! Just reread my first post. Recanting the Sram 10 link and inserting Connex 10 link with the Ultegra chain. I hope to have not confused you. Not sure what I was thinking. Beer may finally be taking it's toll!

HillRider

Not to worry. Beer is worth the toll.

Al1943

A Permalink 10-speed Record chain failed on a friends bike but that was several years ago. The Record grade 10-speed Campagnolo chain I used on my 2004 build has been totally trouble free and is not showing any wear or stretch after 3000 miles. It does use the special pin like Shimano's. My LBS recommended the Shimano 10-speed chain tool, it's less expensive than Campy's and works great. However, I think the Park tools work OK too if they have the correct size punch.
When this Record chain wears out I'll probably replace it with the same.

Al

tebeguache

I'm using a Campy 10 speed chain with a Connex link on Chorus 10 speed triple. No complaints yet. Still gathering data.

Dalai

Another chain to consider is the KMC x10.

So far I have no complaints using this chain with my Chorus Groupset (3000+km). Also has a similar link to that by Connex, so no expensive additional tools required.

Olebiker

I am doing the same thing with my Centaur triple group with good results. I have also used the less expensive Wipperman chain and actually prefer it over the Campy chain.