Originally Posted by
chaadster
Campagnolo’s history of innovation is unequaled. So much stuff, like internal cable routing, G3 wheel lacing, aero rims like Shamal and Bora, ceramic bearings, carbon fiber derailleurs and cranks, Ergopower shift ears and multi-gear shifting with Ultrashift, Hirth joint Ultratorque chainset, use of titanium like the Record seatpost. They were first to introduce 10, 11, 12 and 13 speed groupsets, the first with a compact drivetrain, the first tensile structure disc wheel, the N3W freehub that is uniquely backwards and forwards compatible between 10 and 13 speed cassettes.
Campy haven’t invented everything, but their history of innovation runs right up to today and is unequaled in the world of cyclling.
I thought about this as well but I realized their innovations were not well executed or superior in performance. They were known for continuously missing the mark and that was the brand. When they finally did hit an excellent product very few people were willing to take the risk due to the countless other failures. I was on Campagnolo after my stint in the 70s for their 10 speed and 11 speed era, mainly for prestige reason reasons, always record or super record. I switched to Dura when Campagnolo went to 12 speed, and I realized how far behind their product was in performance overall. I made the switch for the lack of support for parts and all the specialty tools required to work on it from their goofy chain design to that overly complicated bottom bracket you mentioned.