Campy-shimano compatibility: 9 speed Mirage ergos with a 1x9 shimano drivetrain
 

Hey folks!

I picked up a used set of Campy Mirage 9speed ergo shifters yesterday for a superdeal, and I want to get them on my 1x9 cross bike (currently bar-end shifted). My goal is to get the setup working with the parts I have, and I am certainly not interested in purchasing campy wheels. Here's the stuff I have on hand:

9 speed shimano cassette (also have a 10 and 8 speed sitting around, if you want to suggest something crazy)
9 speed mirage ergo levers
9 speed ultegra rear derailer
9 speed chorus rear derailer

It seems like the most straightforward thing would be to use the Mirage levers with the ultegra RD and 9 speed cassette, using a shiftmate to make it work, but I can't quite tell which of the numerous shiftmates I need. I've also read stuff saying the shiftmates are unnecessary, and cable routing can do the trick.

What's the best and/or most economical way to go about this? Thanks!

If your Mirage levers are 2001 or newer, you'll need the #3 Jtek.

If your shifters are pre-2001, then it's the #4 model.

http://www.jtekengineering.com/shiftmate.htm

If you skipped the Jtek, your Campy/Shimano setup would then index a 6-speed freewheel spacing.

If you routed the cable using the "hubbub" method, it would index a 7 or 8-speed.

If you routed the cable for "dura-ace conversion", there is no freewheel with spacing that wide.

Another possible solution

LINK

Try the Mirage levers with the Chorus derailer. You want to use like with like in this case (shifter and derailer). Shimano and Campagnolo 9-speed cassettes are so close you can use either. Just to be on the safe side, adjust the cable in the fifth gear (smack dab in the middle), so the fractions of a millimeter difference add up over four gears, instead of eight.

Maybe more sideways motion of the guide pulley will float enough to be 'close enough'
per shift..
there has been some , as designed.. by Shimano

Campag sold a cassette driver body for their hubs to use Shimano cassettes
in 9 speed.

Thanks for the responses! Is there any alternative cable routing I can use with the Chorus rd on the 9 speed shimano cassette?

No really, unless you can get the inner wire to reside just a millimeter further away from the cable anchor bolt.

That would require making a new washer with a different step dimension carved into the underside of it.

This because you'd be trying to slightly increase the cable-to-cage travel ratio.

Shimano uses a groove in the derailer arm to locate the inner wire, but Campy typically puts a locating "step" on the underside of the pinch washer which requires a bit more care during cable installation.

Feel free to experiment here, but remember that you'll be wanting to reproduce your setup any time that you remove the cable for maintenance, and that might require more fiddling unless there's a locating step or groove to positively position the wire.
Please report back with your progress, but a nine-speed Shimano cassette usually works sorta ok by itself if the cable adjustment is optimized.

If you are hesitant to go the Shiftmate route, don't be. I've been running one for 4 years (not the same set up as you): 10 sp Centaur levers with 9 sp Ultegra cassette. Works flawlessly

Regarding the shiftmate: can anyone tell me how to figure out whether my 9 speed mirage levers are from before or after 2001? I've poked around and I can't find a list of when campy stuff was released. I'm sure it's out there, and if someone has a link I would greatly appreciate it.

Easy, the newer model has "9-speed" printed boldly on the front of the carbon/plastic body, between the lever and the hood.

The earlier 9-speeds, even those with the newer body shape, don't say 9-speed.