Chain rings are also just fine. No problems at all with the new chain/cassette. The crankset is Campy Record as are the chainrings...50/39

Not making it up. I've worked in bike shops for 20 years, two shops, and have always built my bikes from the ground up. This particular bike is a '99 Merlin Ti with a mix of Campy Record Carbon, Record and Chorus drive train. The frame was one of the last built by Merlin in MA before they put a lock on the door and headed south. I picked the frame up at the shop and we got a call barely one week later from a friend of the shop's that worked there telling us when he arrived at work the doors were padlocked and security guards were posted refusing workers to enter even to pick up their personal stuff.

I've always replaced my chains generally twice a year, during winter tear down and mid racing season, thus I've never broken a chain nor had a mechanical during a training ride or race...other than a flat now and then. I've always wondered how long a chain would last and decided to give it a shot...why not...what worst could happen?...so I just rode...after 10 years of riding with the same chain/cassette I finally decided to swap them during my winter routine...funny thing is they looked fine and still worked great as usual.

I do take better care of my bike than the average person...this bike doesn't see wet weather and the drive train is thoroughly cleaned and lubed every two weeks or so...I think this is one of the reasons for such a long life...I'm also a spinner and have always been...plus being a smaller person 5'5" and 145lbs I don't put a huge load on the bike...I've not raced this bike either as I "retired" after 20 plus years of racing due to a bad car/bike accident that left me with many broken bones and over a year of healing before riding again...though fully healed and riding 3000 miles per year I don't put the stress on this bike that I put on my previous racing bike...Basso Ti with full Ultegra.

Believe or not...meh...don't care...just telling of my experience