'47

Has anyone heard of changes to the Centaur group for next year? I'm planning a new bike for next spring.

DaveSSS 

There are no changes that I know of. All groups got the new ultrashift ergopower levers last year. Centaur chainrings were downgraded to the cheaper stamped models in 2009. There is a rumor that Campy made a running change to the 10 speed ultrashift levers to makes the right finger lever clicks more distinct, but I've never been able to confirm that.

https://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/gro...e_catid_13.jsp

With Athena 11 speed priced at $7-800 from Ribble, I would seriously consider spending a little more and moving on to 11 speed. The Athena group uses Chorus cassettes and chain.

I converting may last 10 speed bike over to 11 speed this week - converting the Centaur ultrashift levers to 11 speed with parts from a wreck damaged Record shifter, a new chain and cassette. The RD only requires a trivial modification to work with 11 speed.

Metaluna

Have you heard anything about 11 speed chain life? Do compatible quick links exist yet, or do you have the special tool you need to peen the chain pin? Just curious.

I just picked up some NOS Record 10 shifters but I'm wondering if it might not be better to sell them now while they're still worth something and then plan on moving to 11 speed in a couple of years.

DaveSSS 

/The Forster superlink will soon be available in an 11 speed version. I've already used a KMC missing link, made to fit the Campy 10 UN chain and others have used the SRAM 10 powerloc. I've also used a wipperman 10S1 connex link, but these are no longer made. Wipperman has never made master links intended to fit other brands and I would not expect them to do so in the future. KMC has an 11 speed chain that is supposed to be out soon, but it's more expensive than Campy, so I won't be buying one. I'll try the master link if it becomes available.

I bought the Campy 11 chain tool for about $140. It's not cheap, but it work perfectly. Park tool now sells a dedicated tool that only flares the right end of the 11 speed pin. Most 10 speed tools can be used to break the chain and press the joining pin in place, but can't perform the flaring operation.

I've been monitoring chain wear and so far the chain life looks to be less that you would get from a 10 speed Campy chain, but what people consider acceptable chain life varies tremendously. I expect 5,000 miles from a 10 speed Campy chain and use my chains in a 3-chain rotation with a new cassette to ensure that I get 15,000 from the cassette with no skipping. With 11 speed, I expect no more than 4,000 miles and I'm rotating the new chains every 1500, so the cassette has under 5,000 on it when the third new chain goes on. You have to get some use on all 3 chains before enough cog wear occurs to cause the last new chain to skip. The cogs are the same thickness as Shimano/SRAM 10 (1.6mm) so cog life should be similar. Expect Ti cogs to last half as long as steel. That means Chorus cassettes for maximum life and lowest cost.

Some people think that 2,000 miles on a 10 speed chain is a lot because they don't measure the wear properly and they use Shimano, SRAM or KMC chains that elongate much faster. Even 3,000 miles from an 11 speed chain would be considered to be good, in comparison and should be easy to get.

challaday

Just wondering if there's even going to be a 2010 Centaur. I don't have any insight, but when 11 Speed Athena got introduced, I assumed that Centaur was going to go away.

DaveSSS 

The Campy website now lists 2010 groups, which includes Centaur, Veloce and triple drivetrain components. 10 speed is not going away for awhile.

cs1

Stamped chainrings don't work quite as well when as new. When they break in a little they're just fine.