Originally Posted by
Kimmo
Only the FD, BB and crankset are triple-specific. (looks like a short or mid cage RD). The triple FD will of course work a double just fine, barring clearance problems on some frames perhaps.
I couldn't get my 8 speed Racing Triple front derailleur to reliably shift a C9 chain on a FSA Carbon Pro Compact crank without sometimes overshooting the big ring and dumping the chain on the crank arm. I gave up and switched to a double (CT) derailleur before figuring out whether it was a chain-line issue or what.
On the aesthetics (and awesomeness) axis, the flipside is no reason not to run a corncob, and you could fit a black granny ring...
Campagnolo discontinued the 11-18 and 12-19 in 1999 along with my favorite the 13-14-15-16-17-18-19-21 which worked perfectly paired to a 50-40-30 crankset - low like 42x28 for the mountains west of Boulder, 13-19 straight block for the plains east, no need to swap cassettes 5 days a week.
One could transplant late freehubs and run 8 of 9 cogs with wider spacers (Campagnolo part KIT-03) from a 9 speed Veloce 13-23 cassette (sadly galvanized not polished nickel-chrome).
All I would change is the front brake for an early Campy dual-pivot.
I agree. 1993-1994 Record dual pivot brakes would be ideal. The Record hidden hardware aesthetics are quite nice and no ink identifying the group name is more elegant and period correct.
