4Rings6Stars

So this really isn't C&V so I apologize, but I know there are a bunch of guys here that run various generations of 8-11s Campy and I value your opinions.

This post is long-winded and probably not too interesting to most of you but I need to hash it out as my head is spinning and I'm spending hours scouring forums, ebay, craigslist...etc and I keep changing my mind so bear with me.

I realized recently that my Indy Fab Planet X is my favorite riding frame but is built with my least favorite riding components. I don't like the 8s hood shape and the Sachs - Shimano shifting is just OK. I've considered various upgrade scenarios (below) but wondered if you all had any advice?

My budget is about $400 and ideally I would like to shed a little weight but keep wide gear range since this is my D2R2, gravel road adventure bike. I also eventually want to upgrade to TRP CX9 or similar mini V brakes so if I could save room in the budget for those it would be nice.

Here is my current stable of bikes I actually ride, see the options I'm considering below it:

Independent Fabrication Planet X
Sachs New Success Ergos + New Success long cage RD
Campy Veloce triple crankset and FD
Mediocre Coda rear hub with Shimano 8s cassette

Eddy Merckx Titanium AX
Complete 9s Campy Athena group
Handbuilt wheels (Thanks bikemore!): mid-level silver Campy hubs laced to Open Pros

Eddy Merckx MX Leader
Chorus 10s Ergos + short cage Chorus RD
Record alloy standard crank + Chorus FD
mid-level silver Campy hubs laced to Campy Sydney 2000 rims

Soma Double Cross DC
Chorus 10s Ergos + Deore XT RD
Deore XT hubs laced to disc only Mavic rims with 8s Shimano cassette

Upgrade options:

What I'm leaning towards: Harvest Chorus Ergos from the Soma, replace with 9s STI's I have on hand and buy a 9s Shimano Cassette ($30) for the Soma. Then buy a medium/long cage Campy RD ($70), 10s wheelset and cassette ($225) and a decent/light weight compact crank + FD ($75?).

Find a deal on 9s Campy Ergos + FD ($150ish), buy wheelset ($225), suck it up and keep the Veloce triple.

One of the above options + harvest wheelset from AX and replace with something cheaper ($150 or so), leaving more money for better crank.

I wish I could buy an Athena 11s group but even with careful shopping, after buying the group and wheels I would be lucky to be under $1000. I just can't swing it unless I sell the AX which I really don't want to do... I wish I could but I'm too attached and I would regret it forever if I sold it.




(mind the open quick release levers...Also it now sports a Moots seatpost and Fizik Aliante. I need new pics of this beast)




(now has the seatpost and saddlefrom the AX)

Epicus07

You could always swap groups with the SOMA. Sell the Ergo 8 speed shifters. Buy some new SRAM brake levers and Silver Bar ends and run Friction Shifting. It wouldn't cost you anything and you could buy the new brakes you want.

**edit: and buy some bad ass wheels for the IF. seems like you have some killer frames and groups but no amazing wheels. Chris King or White Industries comes to mind.

Is the IF really the best riding of that stable? That's high praise considering what you have there.

Good luck!

4Rings6Stars

I think the IF is the best riding, but that's hugely subjective. It fits me very well, so that might be a big part of it.

I think I want to go 10s Ergos -- 10s Campy cassette -- 10s Campy RD (or all 9s) on the IF. The mix and max Shimergo stuff works fine, and for my utilitarian Soma I don't mind it but I the type of rides I do with the IF require precision and consistency. That's why I'm not digging the 8s stuff on there.

I'm sticking to Ergos on the bikes shown in this thread. I have another (secret and C&V!) build in the works that will likely get bar ends though...

The bad ass wheel comment is a good one and I've been thinking about it. Good wheels and tires are more important than I've been giving them credit for but they are so damn expensive!

sjpitts 

New 10S Centaur shifters from Shiny Bikes, Veloce 10S or Comp Triple Long Cage RD, plus 9 speed shimano-compatible cassette and chain. That would be doable for under 400.

I haven't used this, but I have heard it works very well. You can also use a Shimano RD with the bent cable trick. That is the current set up on my wife's new bike and seems to working rather well.

4Rings6Stars

I would like to hear some first hand experience of the Campy 10-->Shimano 9s cassette combo shifting multiple gears under load. Like I said in the above post, I've tried a few variations of the Shimergo and while they have worked pretty well, they just didn't come close to the Chorus 10 and Athena 9 groups I currently have.

Epicus07

I'm really enjoying the new 10 speed Centaurs i got from Ribble for $135 with cables/housing.

You could probably build a 10 speed group around those pretty inexpensively. Sell the group you currently have on there and build some bad ass wheels.

I have tried both J-Tek and the cable routing trick and its never 100%.
If you want "precision and consistency" you need to avoid mixing speeds and manufacturers.

sjpitts 

It was told to me by oldpotatoe on the serotta/paceline forum. I was asking about using a jtek shiftmate solution.

I don't know exactly who he is, but I gather he has a fair bit of respect when it comes to campy ergo's.

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showpo...15&postcount=3

buldogge

^^^That's Peter @ Vecchio's in Boulder...vast Campy knowledge, but not down with kludges of any type.

Campy 11s.

You only need the shifters/chain/cassette.

Shifters are easy...2010 Athena...$185 (or less)
Chorus chain is $40
Chorus cassette is $105 (12-25 or 12-27)

10s Campy RD that you already have, or grab a Centaur for $45 used.

My 2c.

KonAaron Snake 

There's so much going on there that it's hard for me to keep straight...

If it's your favorite riding frame, make sure it's your favorite bike by using parts you LOVE. Not like, LOVE! I'd keep it either Campagnolo or Shimano and would not mix drive trains. Sure...it might work, but working and excelling are different. I'm going thr0ough that right now with my Suntour Command shifters...it works, but it's sort of annoying. At the price point you indicate, I'd scour ebay for something like 9sp daytona, 10sp centaur (used)...etc. I'd also outright sell a bike I like less to fund making one you love better. I'm selling a few things now to fund a 10sp ergo switch for my Merlin...I LOVE the frame, but the 9sp DA stuff is just "OK".

toytech

10sp Ergo will shift 10spd sram if you want a bigger gear range without a jtek. My Tandem is going together with 10speed ergos, a sra m x9 mountain long cage and mtb cassette with a 34t low.

amandadun

I am a newbie, can someone explain what an Ergo is?

KonAaron Snake 

Amanda...Ergo is Campagnolo's modern brifter system introduced in 1991'ish. It has integrated brakes/shifting and is a rival to Shimano's STI system and SRAM double tap. A lot of us think it's the best stuff ever made for a bicycle, though it's modern for this forum and crowd. I can't post photos of Ergo for you from work, but could later.

The first Ergo gruppos were 8 spd and the current stuff is 10 and 11sp. Athena up is 11. All of the stuff works great with slight incremental improvements in smoothness as the cassette cogs get closer together via larger gear ranges. That comes at a price of durability. 11sp Campagnolo is, hands down, the finest, most intuitive, most comfortable set up I've ever had my hands on.

Yo Spiff

I've got a 9 speed Veloce/Daytona mix and love it. Daytona levers & FD. Racing-T RD (Not sure what group level this is) and Veloce triple in the front. I've recently replaced the middle chainring with a TA and the chain with an SRAM. Works nicely together.

I agree that you should outfit the frame you love with the parts you really like on it. Within your budget, of course.

4Rings6Stars

Thanks for all the comments. I'm at work now, but will add more when I get home.

Quick question - will a short cage 10s RD be able to handle a compact crank and 12-26 cassette?

buldogge

Yes...but...Campy 10s is 11-25, 12-25 or 13-29, unless you use a 12-27 conversion cassette. Might need a medium or long cage for the 13-29 depending on set-up. Plenty of people have run short cage Campy with 13-29 though.

11s is 11-25, 12-25, 12-27, or 13-29.

bikemore 

Thanks for the tip. Kind of wondered what happened to the wheels.

4Rings6Stars

I haven't touched them witha spoke wrench and they are still arrow straight...couldn't be happier.

Any interest in building me up another set.....I'm half serious, but I would have to come up with some rims and hubs first.

4Rings6Stars

Just wanted to provide an update on this thread.

A new member posted a Paramount with a Chorus 9s / racing triple group on it in the valuation thread. We chatted a bit about potentially parting it out, but in the end he sold the whole package to me for a very fair price. Thanks nikku.

I contacted forum member habes78023 and luckily he lives close by and was willing to pick it up and ship it to me. Thanks Shaun and thanks Khatfull for the facilitators thread!

The frame is much too large for me, but I'm planning to build it up for a good buddy of mine who is currently riding an 80's Le Tour and plans to do some centuries (including the D2R2) with me this summer. I showed him a picture of it and he's very excited.

While I wait for the frame to arrive, I will start breaking down the IF. I'm not sure if I will sell the Sachs stuff or not, but Mr. Tunes you're first in line for the Ergos if I decide to.

Thanks everybody, this forum really is a great community.

miamijim

I'd go as modern as possible...10s at the least.