The freehub/axle/bearing setup used on all 8 speed hubs, all 1997-1998 9 speed hubs, and 1999 9 speed hubs except Chorus/Record is different from that used on the three hub varieties for which Campagnolo (and Fulcrum) makes/made Hyperglide freehubs (2000+ Veloce/Mirage and 2007 Centaur with cartridge bearings; 1999-2006 Centaur/Daytona/Chorus/Record oversized aluminum axle with cub and cone bearings; and 2007+ Record which shares the earlier bearings but has a different configuration on the freehub end).

If the cog doesn't workout well viable fixes yielding lower gears without rebuilding the rear wheel are

- 10 speed rear derailleur, 10 speed cassette (Campagnolo makes a 13-29 cassette and Miche loose cogs + spacers can be assembled in any configuration. About $45 for a NOS loose-cog Veloce cassette with nickel-chrome plated cogs), upgrade to 10 speed shifters.

You may need new shifters or may be able to change internals around - 1998 was a transition year with the old shifter bodies but Athena and below seem to share the same year 9 speed internals apart from the pivot shaft.

- Triple. A 2000 and older 9 speed long cage rear, 8 or 9 speed triple front derailleur, and triple crankset won't cost too much.