To be clear about what I love, it is the bike, but it is the particular setup. It is kind of a Frankenbike arrangement: 8 speed Record Ergo shifters, 8 speed Record front and rear derailleurs. Dura-Ace f/r hubs. Running Uniglide 8 speed cogs with specially sized spacers to make Shimano play nice with Campy. It works flawlessly.

I also have a sizable collection of these 8 speed cogs and chains, as well as a couple more sets of Dura-Ace hubs. I have zero interest in a triple. I just don't want it. Both my weight and my age are higher than they used to be, and I want some lower gears because I no longer live in gently sloped country, I live in steep hill country.

I accept that a new crankset will require a new bottom bracket, and quite possibly, a new front derailleur. And, as you can now see, I have no philosophical purity about brands: whatever works well.

So my bottom line question was really this: Can I keep the eight speed everything else (setting aside the front mech for the time being) and run an 11 speed compact crank without causing myself all manner of headache?

Final wistful remark: I really wish Campy had not gone with the carbon cranks, because I love the jewel finish and beauty of the older aluminum stuff.

And another thing: If I had to say what was the single biggest deal breaker here, it would be having to get rid of the Campy Ergo levers. Nothing in my experience on the bike shifts as reliably as them. Except friction down tube levers. Because the indexing is in my hand