Dave Mayer

Athena 11: sure. This is a high-quality, functional group that performs about as well as anything out there. Somewhat heavier than the higher-end carbon groups, but it should provide a lifetime of service.

Modolo calipers: strip these off of your bike and dump them deep in the trash. These are about the worst calipers ever made, only slightly better than Dia-Compe and cheap stamped steel calipers on department storage bikes. Modolo calipers featured poor mechanical advantage, overly stiff springs, flexy arms, and awkward and cheap hardware. But every dual pivot brake (no matter how cheap) is better than every single-pivot brakeset ever made. It is simply a matter of superior mechanical advantage.

The Athena dual-pivot calipers will be a quantum level improvement over the Modolos.

Cyclist0108

That small?

Seriously, though, thanks for that advice. That is exactly the kind of info I was hoping to get. For $35 I can get the silver-colored Veloce (can't find any Athenas, and I kind of like how these look better).

So I guess that means I can't sell the Modolo brake set for a huge profit?

Dave Mayer

You will find no difference in braking performance between Veloce and Record or between Sora and Dura-Ace. Basically the same mechanical advantage. Only difference is that the higher end calipers are lighter and feature higher quality hardware with perhaps somewhat less friction between the arms.

Selling the Modolos: do a public service and take these out of circulation.

Cyclist0108

That actually makes me feel a bit better, hearing that those brakes objectively suck. I thought it was me. They are, in large part, responsible for me getting Ultegra hydraulics on my new bike.

ThermionicScott 

<-- didn't want to leave you hangin'.

Cyclist0108

OK, so now it is time to order the brakes. $35 at chainreaction. I also need an 11-speed Cassette. I can get it there (and eliminate the $10 shipping fee for the brakes) if I do so in the same order. I don't have a wheelset to put these on yet.

Are Campy incompatible with everything else? I was kind of shocked at how expensive a cassette is, compared to (for example) Ultegra. Chain reaction has an 11-speed Chorus for $107 by itself, and you can also get it bundled with a chain (with campy and various chain options at that link). Any suggestions? I really have no idea what to do here, and don't want to make a costly mistake. I only have a Shimano 11-speed chain tool, fwiw, but am not adverse to having a shop put it on, along with the BB and possibly cold-setting the frame. Advice on any of these is greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

ppg677

You can run Shimano 11-speed cassette (and Shimano-splined hubs) if you want. The Shimano/Campy 11-speed spacing is pretty much the same.

What are you going to use for wheels?

Cyclist0108

I don't know what wheels I would get yet. I'd have to get something specific to this bike with rim brakes anyway, so I can get a campy-compatible free-hub. But if it makes no difference with a Shimano cassette I might do that, if the wheels/hubs aren't campy-specific.

I got a set of November wheels I really like, so one option is to have them make me another set with box rims and (maybe) WI hubs.



Depends how much money I want to put into those vs. factory wheels, which would probably be completely adequate.

Cyclist0108

Another question:

Is this the correct BB to get for the Campy Athena 11?

It says "For use with Athena, Centaur, and Veloce Power Torque chainsets." But I just want some reassurance I am not doing something stupid.

Campagnolo Power - Torque Cups | Chain Reaction Cycles

(Italian, not BSA thread.)

Cyclist0108

Also, what do you call those cable guide thingies that I would presumably replace the friction shifters with? I need them to fit the braze-ons for those.

Andy_K 

Yes, those are what you need.

Be aware that once the crank is installed you will need a couple of special tools to remove it. Park Tool sells a pair of tools for $50 each to do the job. Campagnolo sells a single fitting piece of metal which they suggest using with a standard automotive gear puller. The Park Tool is mainly designed to avoid scratching the cranks during removal.


"downtube cable stop and adjuster"

If you don't mind mixing in a Shimano part you can buy them here:

https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...&category=1613

If you have a good relationship with your LBS you may be able to get a set for free from their parts drawer.

Spaghetti Legs 

I'm pretty sure the shifters come with cable stops so hold off on buying some until you get your new group.

jamesdak 

Neither of my Athena sets did.

bikemig 

Go for it but you'll have to change your avatar pic to that of a very sad dog.

Andy_K 

Updating my status in this regard...



This thread kind of convinced me that I wanted a triple Athena group for my Montello. I have a double gruppo that I could move on there, but I'm not getting any younger so I figure I ought to build a bike I can still ride up a hill 10-20 years from now.

Poking around online I couldn't find all the pieces in silver, so I kind of ****zed and bought a black group. I was on the fence about whether black or silver would look better with a chrome frame, and I figure that even if I decide I don't like it on the Montello I can always use it to replace the black 105 group on my LeMond.

I have no will power.

ksryder

FWIW - I was going to order silver Athena 11-speed not long ago, but by the time I got ready to pull the trigger all the UK sites were out (at least, they were out of the specs I wanted.) I emailed one of the companies -- I think it was Ribble -- and they said Athena was no longer being replaced; it would be all Potenza from here on out.


HOWEVER -- some random person on another forum, who seems to be well-informed, said that Athena will still be available but only as a triple. Potenza will be the only silver 11-speed double option from here on out.


I ordered Veloce. I don't need it to go to 11.

rekmeyata

I'd say that guy's been campy too long...

Cyclist0108

For the record (so to speak), I got the Athena silver triple crank, derailleurs and brake lever-shifters from Planet Cyclery. They still have them. The group is out of stock because (apparently) they don't have the actual athena brakes. Stuff arrived today.

I just ordered the BB and brakes and some unrelated stuff from chainreactioncycles.com.

Cyclist0108

Came with everything but those.

The cable housing is black. I have 34 year old Celeste-colored housing. I think it would be great to get some new housing either in Celeste or in dark blue (to match the decals).

Spaghetti Legs 

Well live and learn. I had a set in a Chorus shifter box and always assumed they came with. Must have ended up there some other way.

It's always dangerous to bring up housing, bar tape, etc colors in a bike build thread. I think the blue would look better than the celeste, contrast is nice. Please no celeste tires.

Cyclist0108

28 mm Clemente. They are black.

Andy_K 

They only have the crankset in 175. I could get it locally in 172, but I really wanted 170. Otherwise, you're right that it is still possible to piece a set together. Not cheap, but possible.

When I ordered a compact double Athena group back in March I had to pull in a bottom bracket and a front derailleur from a second source because Ribble didn't have the ones I needed in stock. Things certainly haven't gotten any better since then.

Andy_K 

He may be dead, but he's got style, and as Fernando always says, "It's better to look good than to feel good."

Cyclist0108

Oy vey. I hope I didn't get something too long. My main ride has 172.5. Those on-line calculators suggest I, at 5'9" with short stubby Scottish legs, probably should have 165.

BTW, what's the local place? I am coming to Portland next week to schlep bikes and other crap to kid at college.

Edit:

Nevermind. I got the last

Andy_K 

FWIW, the "local" place is Universal Cycles. It looks like the silver crankset is actually in Pennsylvania right now, but I could have had it brought to the Portland store.

Glad you got the one you intended. I'm also 5'9" and have used everything from 165 to 175 and honestly haven't noticed the difference, but as I'm aging (only 46 now and my body is already trying to tell me I'm old) I've been paying more and more attention to not introducing bio-mechanical differences between bikes when I can avoid it.