Originally Posted by
Carbon Unit
I am a Campy user and I like that it can be rebuilt. The down side to Campy is that it isn't available at every bike shop and you may or may not like the thumb shifter. Also, Campy will not come on a new bike. You will need to add it to a frame. Shimano and SRAM are available on new bikes.
The big advantages for Campagnolo are
1. First generation ergos (1992-1997), second generation (1998-present), and Ultrashift (2009-2010 Centaur and Veloce 10 speed (you can still buy NOS Veloce shifters; be sure to get 2010) and all 11 speed; 2011 - present 11 speed Chorus and up) levers can all shift three cogs bigger and at least five cogs smaller with one lever operation.
Moving to the next gear on the small ring with a tight cassette and compact crank happens when you push both thumb buttons simultaneously, thus moving the front derailleur and going up to five cogs in back. On my compact setup that meant 50x21 -> 23x15 passing 19,18,17, and 16 cogs along the way.
With Shimano or SRAM you need to move both levers, release, press the right lever, release, press the right lever, release, press the right lever, release, and press the right lever to get there.
2. Pretty much all Campagnolo levers run triples and they sell matching triple cranks. It's been my experience that compact cranks do not work well (except for the marketing department, which likes the profits which go with SKU reduction). You might want a full-sized double if you're strong enough to spin a 39 x 21, 23, or 25/26 up anything you'll encounter (depending on whether you prefer an 11, 12, or 13 starting cog; with 11 speeds you can have an 11-23 or 12-25) and manage the rest since that nets one tooth jumps through your 19 cog past which their absence is notable. Otherwise you want a triple to avoid the compact problems. It won't look "traditional" although the compact crank with pie-plate sized cogs is also a failure in that department.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=#post14610808
3. Campagnolo sells 11 speed groups. You can have a 12-25 with an 18 cog or 12-28 wide-range cassette that's not missing the 16 too.
4. Aesthetics. The components look like they were designed by Italians. You do not get abominations like cranks that look like dead octopuses.
5. Campagnolo is a religious experience which makes colors brighter and hills less steep.