900aero

Looking at a new groupset and considering the lower end models from Campy. Would love Record but in the interests of the budget, prepared to compromise. Not worried about weight, more about function and durability. Anyone got some thoughts, advice, experience they can offer?

Appreciate any helpful comments.

Fox Farm

Invest in Chorus would be my suggestion. Available from Ribble in the UK at lower prices than you would pay in the US because you will not have to pay VAT. What IS your budget?

rm -rf

I wore out my 2006 Veloce rear derailleur after about 18,000 miles. The pivots were worn, so the derailleur had some slop in the shifting. I got a great deal on a closeout on a previous year Veloce derailleur and shifter set, and I wanted to try the newer shifter design. I had the older shifters with the small knob on the hood. I got the (2010?) Veloce Ultra Shift model that was discontinued.

The newer Veloce rear derailleur has a redesigned body, with beefier pivots set wider apart. It should last much longer. It's compatible with the older shifters, too.

The newer shifter body shape is much better. I like it a lot. It's more comfortable on the hoods, and the brake levers have more curvature, so I get more leverage, and a lot more braking power from the hoods. For one more position on longer rides, I can grip the knob with the side of my palm and rest the edge of my hand on the hoods.

I have the 13-29 10 speed cog set. The really low 34-29 is great on 8-10% grades--I can stay seated. If I had 11 speed, I would get the 12-29. But I can still spin my top gear of 50-13 up to about 33-34 mph on downhills, so I don't really miss the 12 cog.

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I would want shifters that are Ultra Shift. They allow shifts up 3 larger cogs with the shift lever, or 5 small cogs with the thumb lever, in one push. With 34/50 compact cranks, I usually want to shift the back 3 smaller when I drop to the 34 chain ring. I do that with a quick thumb push on each shifter.

Groupsets

Veloce was Ultra Shift for a year or so, but now it's using "Power Shift" which is up 3, or down 1 cog. I haven't tried it, but supposedly, it's less pressure on the lever to shift. From the drops, I do occasionally shift 2 smaller cogs when I wanted to do just one, so Power Shift would keep that from happening.

I think Centaur is similar to Veloce, with carbon levers and a slightly lower weight, still 10 speed.

Athena is 11 speed, aluminum levers, Power Shift. It can be all classic polished aluminum instead of (optional) black.

Chorus is 11 speed, Ultra Shift.

RollCNY

I have Veloce Power shift shifters coupled to Centaur everything else. I do not have a huge number of miles on it (maybe 1k) yet, but it works well, I have no issues with the single downshift, but that is user specific. I prefer it to Shimano 105, but again user specific. Would I buy it again? Yes.

Bigger than the shifters, the Power Torque crank is lightweight, but a PITA to remove. If I were doing another build (which I am always contemplating), I would get a NOS ultra torque crank. They are heavier, but easier to take on and off. With NY road salt, I do not like having a crank that is difficult to remove for cleaning.

chaadster

Athena 11spd is also available with carbon crank and brake levers, so you can add a gear and shave weight (though not much) over Centaur carbon 10spd.

I have Athena, and have ridden Centaur briefly; FWIW, I did not notice any difference in shift quality or feel, though it was a brief and not particularly critical comparison.

himespau 

I thought I'd read somewhere that when they switched to powershift, they changed the actuation ratios again, so powershift shifters don't work with older RD's. Could have misread that though.

relayer66

I have 2012 Veloce components on my newest bike. They seem to be very reliable, solid and easy to use, but I have not put more than a few hundred miles on it yet. Still, they are not sexy enough for my shapely carbon Italian frame, so I'm going to slap some Chorus on there and put the Veloce on a new aluminum frame as my foul-weather beater. Not that there's anything wrong with it...it seems to be really good stuff, and no complaints so far.

pallen

I'm running 2012 Centaur Carbon Red/Black. Weighs almost exactly the same as the 2011 Dura Ace it replaced and cost WAY less - like half, if I recall correctly. It also looks fantastic!

Also, Campy braking is the best I've used to date on a road bike.

clausen

20K Km on 2005 Veloce no issues other than replacing a right shifter damaged in a crash. 20k KM on my current 2009 Centaur shifter no issues. Over 30K Km on the rest of the rest of the 2007 drive train no issues. As with any component a little maintenance keeping parts clean and lubed goes along way. Change my chain every 5-6k KM and cable every 10 K KM. Going up the ladder doesn't give you more durability, for the most part just lighter parts.

900aero

Thanks guys. Am considering replacing the stock Veloce on a new Pinarello with a Chorus gruppo which is a mixture of new/near new for $650. The longevity you guys have reported is encouraging.

tjallen

It sounds like you're on the right track with the Chorus mix you're thinking about (especially given the price), but I just want to echo what others are saying here. Stay away from Power-Shift (only one cog downshifts eliminates one of the major benefits of campy) and Power-Torque (forget about easily maintaining these as you need a gear puller and special Park adapters and it's still a major PITA). Given that, if you want a slightly less expensive (than full new retail, not your good price) 11 speed kit, get a Chorus shifter and crankset and Athena everything else. If you are looking at 10 speed, search for some 2009/2010 Centaur.

rousseau

For the purpose of clarity, unless something weird is going on you obviously mean single-cog upshifting, not downshifting, which has remained as multiple-cog throughout.

Drew Eckhardt 

You want 2010 Ultrashift levers (Veloce or Centaur - the only differences are in graphics and lever options. Athena through Super Record are also identical to the 10 speed levers apart from the 11 speed index cam, brake lever/graphics, and 7g per pair saving rear ratchets for Super Record) which work like every regular ergo lever Campagnolo has made since 1992 - shift up to (at least - first generation levers will go all the way if your thumb is long enough) five cogs smaller and three bigger on the right lever - except they don't have G-springs which wear out and are likely to become a discontinued small part (like the other springs from first generation levers).

ESPECIALLY if you run a compact where double shifts are common and it can take a five cog move to arrive at the "next" gear.

You can get there starting with Chorus levers and either find a 2010 index cam from a crashed lever or replace the right mechanism for $90.

Used might be a better option, although they need to have the running change made during the 2009 model year to provide stiffer detents.

Apart from that either will work great, although with the hoops you need to jump through whater + Athena drive train + Chorus shifters looks pretty attractive.

I grabbed a set of NOS 2010 Centaur Carbon Ultrashift levers before the supply dried up and they're great - the hood shape is more ergonomic than older designs and brake levers provide more leverage when you're riding on the hoods. I got the carbon because the supply of silver anodized had dried up and I dislike black anodizing (it looks real bad with the inevitable scratches), although having ridden them carbon brake blades would be my first choice because they're more comfortable in cool (~45 degrees) whether that doesn't quite cross the threshold where I'd wear gloves.

RollCNY

For the purpose of clarity, you are correct. I maintained the description started the post before me, rm-rf, with 3 cogs up the cassette, 1 cog down the cassette. But it is upshifting in terms of ratio and gear inches.

flatlander_48

One point:
Centaur isn't exactly low end. Originally it was 3rd in line behind Record and Chorus when Campagnolo was 10sp only. I don't think that they have cheapened it up any, so it remains a very capable croup.

pallen

Yeah, its a common misconception with Campy that Veloce and Centaur are Campy's 2600 and Tiagra. Nothing could be further from the truth. Although, I think the OP was just speaking relative to the others above it. Cost-wise, it might appear "low-end" for sure - that's what makes it such a great value.

Yo Spiff

I have a bike with a mix of Veloce and Daytona parts, year 2000 model. Daytona was the next level up, probably close to the Athena group in Campy's current lineup.
I replaced the 42t chainring in 2012 due to warpage, and also replaced the sealed bottom bracket. The headset that came on the bike had problems in the first year. I don't recall if it was a Campy or not, but it was replaced with a Chorus headset and never had a problem with it since.

Other than the early headset problem, I don't find any of it out of line on a group that I rode for 12 years.

Campag4life

I will just posit as a very happy owner of 2011 Campy Centaur carbon 10s with Chorus CF crank...its a shame that 10s has devolved to single shift Power Shift and crappy Power Torque cranks. For this reason alone, moving forward if starting fresh I would just pick at least Chorus or Record 11s and be done with it. I wouldn't bother with Athena either for the same reason. I will say Campy is quite clever in their marketing to induce selling their higher level groupset. Campy UT cranks are fantastic and vastly better than Power Torque and as an owner of multiple shifting Campy...this feature is partly what makes Campy great. So for me at least when my 10s Campy groupset wears out...unless Campy gets a wild hair and re-releases multiple shifting with 10s which I think is unlikely, then it will a change to 11s for me...and not Athena....and my motivation isn't even another cog in back...but rather to preserve what Centaur was back in 2010.
My thoughts.

rekmeyata

I personally think Athena is the best choice without getting to expensive like Chorus and Record, or too cheap like ones you mentioned. Athena is more like Shimano 105, both are called the workhorse groups, and Athena is not that much more expensive then what your looking at and if you go alloy you can get it a bit less expensive then the black version. Centaur is only $100 less then Athena alloy, why bother? While Chorus is $800 more and you'll never experience it's $800 worth if your not racing.

Campag4life

Huh? Until you service the crank or try to shift multiple gears...lol.

flatlander_48

OR...

If you are thinking about going EPS in the not too distant future. I rode a full Centaur group for about 2 years and then a Centaur/Chorus 10sp mix for 3. However, I upgraded to Chorus 11sp in part because I'm thinking seriously about moving to EPS. Basically I wouldn't have to buy the non-electronic hardware; just the electronic bits...

RollCNY

Total Cycling was selling NOS Veloce ultra shift levers about six months ago (Drew Eckhardt pointed it out) and I regret not pack ratting a few sets. I like the current power shift ergo, but would have loved to try the older stuff.

Bah Humbug

You can also do Athena with Chorus shifters to get the Ultrashift mechanism without spending on the Chorus derailleurs.

himespau 

Man, that would have been good to have gotten in on. I grabbed Centaur shifters a year and a half or so ago, but got the new ones. Just missed out on the old ones. I see the old ones on e-bay going for the same prices as 10 speed record.

rekmeyata

2013 Athena shifts multiple gears.

If you want the Athena group the only thing you would even remotely consider upgrading is the rear derailleur to Chorus, the front wouldn't need to because it's not used as much as the rear.