RobbieTunes

I've found myself to be very forgiving of anyone's mixed group, but in my own builds, I tend to try to match 'em up, when using Shimano. For some reason, I have no issue mixing Campy stuff, especially 8-sp stuff.

I tend to use one Shimano crankset over all others-Ultegra 9-sp, but try to match the group, otherwise.

However, with Campy, it seems like I just try to use what works. I wonder if it's because there are no names on the Campy stuff?

These, and other deep philosphical questions, continue to haunt me and make me drink.

norskagent

For me, the frame and its current state decides what will go on it. If it's run of the mill, with nothing special about it, I will use whatever is cheap or on hand, and works. If the frame is more grail-like, I will try to use what is "right". If I'm going to ride it alot, I may make some concessions for fit, weight, etc. The nice thing about building it "right" is you usually have a blueprint or two to go by, some bikes must have all campy, some all shimano, some either will work. On my merckx 7/11, I went with the obvious choice, 8spd dura ace, but because I take it to the mountains I put a compact on it. Easy enough to switch out should someone care to in the future.

Amesja

Whatever is on sale on Amazon.

sloar 

This is where my OCD really kicks in. Whether its shimano or campy, I really like everything to be the same. On one of my bikes I have all nuovo record but my cranks are victory and it bugs the hell out of me..

RobbieTunes

I think I know where that comes from.
I still lace my shoes the "proper" way.

Semper Fi, yourself.

bradtx

RT, Back when my old bikes were brand new I used to build utilizing only one group, usually 600/Ultegra, on a particular bike from headset to bottom bracket and hub to hub (including seat post)... just seemed kind of harmonious and quelled my inner OCD. Now-a-days it depends more on what's in the part's bin.

Brad

KonAaron Snake 

For me it depends on the bike - if it's something special, it might be better off "pure". A Rene Herse shouldn't have Shimano on it. For the vast majority, do what you like.

Barrettscv 

This is one of those topics where hard rules often fail.

Older and more valuable bikes should stay as close to original and period-correct as possible. If the parts are available to keep a higher value bike worth $1000 or more correct, I'll stick with OE as much as possible.

If the bike is common and going to be used on a regular basis, I'll update. While I try to keep the authentic look of an older bike, modern drivetrain parts and wheels can provide a huge performance advantage and also help keep costs down.

JPZ66

What anyone else does with their set up is fine by me, but if it is mine.....

It will likely be Italian, if it is Italian, then only Italian parts will go on it.....be they Campagnolo, Gipiemme, Miche, Ambrosio, Nisi...etc. there will not be any Mavic, Shimano, Huret, Simplex or what have you. I run more leeway with British and French bikes though.

Now don't get me wrong....

I'm not saying those non-Italian parts or bikes are inferior, but I generally don't have the same rules of purity with them. Of course I usually won't waste fine italian hardware on non Italian bikes ! I don't own any Japanese bikes, so I sell off any Shimano that comes my way. Also, Shimano on an Italian bicycle is akin to the attack on Pearl Harbor in my book !

Now the Italian stuff falls into different categories....if it is high end, it will get appropriate high end Campy parts, if it is entry level then it will get lower level Campy parts...Some people will tell me that I the lower level Italian parts don't always perform so well....I call that a part of the character and old world charm of the bike....

All Hail Tulio !!

Cheers,

Joe

mickey85

If all the original parts work, they'll stay. If not, they're replaced with either what I can afford from the LBS or what's in the parts bin.

sloar 

Rob, so true, marine corps habits are hard to break. I'm finished eating before my family sits down to start.

calstar 

Brian

acoffin 

I can really appreciate a nice quality mix and match group. What unsettles me to no end are mix and match derailleurs and shifters.

Anthony

gomango

Yep, this is pretty much how I fall on this issue.

I only have a couple of Shimano equipped bicycles left in the stable.

One of which, my De Rosa Professional, will never be converted to Campy as long as I own it.

It was built for the Captain of a local racing team going on 25 years ago with Shimano DA and I see no reason to swap it out at this point.

Easily one of the smoothest riding and best functioning bicycles I have ever owned.

In fact, I purchased a DA 7400 equipped donor last spring to harvest the gruppo.

If I ever need parts, they are here on the shelf.

gioscinelli 

On my Italians, I use Campy, on my non Italians, I use Shimano Dura Ace, and on my French, C'est tout français!

Reynolds 753

When I can afford to, I like to match.

Cattywompus

I'm too broke to get picky on new builds, but I have a Merckx that's full Campy and is going to stay that way.

kroozer 

In my small stable of 60's-80's rides, Italian bikes get Italian parts and French bikes French parts, although my old Le Champion will have mixed French-Italian. Other European bikes get European parts. Exceptions for tires & tubes, brake hoods & pads, cable housing, spokes, small bolts & clips, etc. And Suntour freewheels on everything-- I think old European freewheels suck and I refuse to use them. I have a late 40's Percy Stallard frame and one of the reasons I bought it was to do a bike with English components.
I don't have any Japanese bikes but if I did they'd have all-Japanese parts. I also use mostly Japanese on other non-European bikes and anything "modern" i.e. post 1985. The Davidson is the only bike with a truly eclectic mix-- anything as long as it's high-end.

KonAaron Snake 

Totally agree...for a 70s De Rosa, I'd want campy. For an 80s de rosa, do what you like, including mixing. Most of us had switched to DA drive train for that 5 years of synchros.

I never would have considered shimano for anything after ergos arrived; my Merlin has DA 7700 and I'll eventually swap to campy 10. Newer shimano is hideous IMO and functionally 2nd rate to campy.

gomango

Touchdown.

Six De Rosas on the shop's team ran DA back in the day.

I'd never put it on a 70s De Rosa, nor would I put it on a frameset only purchase.

For that instance, I'd be more inclined to toss on an eight, nine, or ten speed Campy gruppo.

Thank goodness I like Shimano XTR for off road, as the newer Shimano road gruppos leave me cold.

I'm sure they work great, they're just not my preference at this point.

calamarichris

Some people go to colossal lengths to justify their drinking. Others, it appears go to even greater lengths to make everyone else wrong.

wrk101

I get bikes to match, or as close as possible. I frequently find frankenbikes, and its the first thing I do. Needless to say, I have boxes with misc parts from the various groups I use the most often.

Sometimes I am a couple of parts short, like my Superbe Pro bike, where I tolerate some mismatch.

Well, time to strike all of those comments.

Well, I checked my most recent keeper bike (finished today). Lets see, Cyclone GT generation 1 derailleurs, Shimano 6200 series 600 touring crankset, Shimano 6400 tricolor pedals, etc.

I guess I am not a purist after all.....

JPZ66

De Rosa with Shimano...... <----------- "stink eye" ! (JK)



Cheers,

Joe

KonAaron Snake 

I like the 80s shimangola mix and match. The 7400 indexing works better, but Campy's brake levers are far nicer (at least for my hands) and the aesthetics are just no comparison. The ideal 80s road bike, to me would have shimano derailleurs and cassette, campy everything else.

gomango

Heh Joe,

Just another case where folks on the interweb care, while in real life, not so much.

I do remember our team mechanics gleefully stripping Campy Syncros off De Rosas, Colnagos, Cioccs, etc.

Into the trash can they went.

Wish I would have kept them to sell to online "enthusiasts" nowadays.

Probably could have made a decent down payment on a custom frame.