Originally Posted by
repechage
The above might help explain the various views of Campagnolo Shifting performance. The Nuovo Record was designed for racing ratios of the era, so no bigger than 26t basically. And 24t was better. 28t can be done, but it requires effort on some bikes to set up, and does come with reduced performance compared to the tighter ratios. The last generation Super Record does better and was changed to swing the 7 and 8 speed blocks. The Nuovo Record was not, 6 at the rear with normal spacing.
There is no question that the Suntour slant parallelogram is the better design. It is unfortunate that Suntour took so long to create a pro level ensemble. So it goes.
I do think a vintage lightweight enthusiast should consider a full Campagnolo Nuovo Record era bike. It was the standard to which others aspired for over 15 years. The overall package of aesthetics, finish, materials and repairability was the standard. Did Campagnolo get complacent? Yes. But their dominance in racing for the pros and amateurs cannot be denied. Weinmann 500's can stop as well as Campagnolo brakes, but what one adjusts easier, has a superior level of finish, and is more elegant?
So, let's say I did manage to acquire some Campy stuff for my Bottecchia. What would you recommend? No more than 6spds in the rear? If I couldn't go over more than 24 or 26 for a top cog, that means (for me) I'd had have to run a pretty compact double up front to make it around some of these hills. Didn't Campy make some long cage stuff? Where I could run a 28t or 30t and still have it shift well? I mean, I've already thought I'd run a super compact on the crank.......like 45 and 30 (by modifying the crank), but lately I was thinking differently. Meh.....I dance around like the shade on a breezy, summer day sometimes.