rosiewoodboat

I recently came into a 1987 Moser frame and fork and am building it up now with modern components. I had planned to go Ultegra, but a few guys at the shop where I wrench gave me a hard time about the Italian bike with the Japanese components. I can get Veloce for basically the same price as Ultegra -- what are peoples opinions here as far as Ultegra vs. Veloce? If I was putting on Record it would be a non-issue, but that's not the price point I'm looking at.... Thanks!

demoncyclist

I have 10 speed Veloce on my Cannondale and 8 speed Mirage on my Bianchi. The Bianchi still has the original shifters and derailleurs. I replaced the bb after 15K miles, and then only because I was ordering other parts and had the frame stripped. I think I still have it around somewhere. If you are looking for smooth shifting for a LONG time, I would go with Campy. If you are looking to save even more, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Mirage.

HillRider

What's with this Japanese components on an Italian bike problem? Many Italian (at least in name) bikes come with Shimano components and have for decades.

If you want to be period authentic, you need the original (dreadful) Campy Syncro downtube shifters and similar components.

Veloce isn't an Ultegra equivalent and at the same cost it's overpriced. If you can get Centaur at the Ultegra price go for it.

rosiewoodboat

Centaur comes in at the same cost as Dura Ace. My gut feeling is that Ultegra is better than Veloce (which I understand to be more like 105-equivalent), but I'm getting conflicting information in the shop. I've only ever put significant miles on Shimano....

I'd considered downtube shifters indeed, but have decided to do ergo (or the equivalent).

juicemouse

That kind of "advice" should be ignored. Campy's and Shimano's systems are different enough that I would consider plenty of other things before the nationality of the components. If all else were equal to you, I personally would prefer Campy for what I see as more classic looking levers, but that's just MHO. But since I find that Ergo levers are a much better fit for my hands, I wouldn't have even considered asthetics, let alone nationality. If STI fit me better, you can bet I'd be running that instead.

rosiewoodboat

Well, true enough. I over-exaggerate the "Italian frame means Italian components" take on it; the basic sentiment is more like "this is a really nice Vintage frame, you should build it up really nicely" and the feeling is that "really nicely" means Campy. But putting low-end campy doesn't make much sense to me a priori....

juicemouse

Alright, well that's a little different then. For one thing, I think you're getting a raw deal if you can't find a Centaur 10-speed groupset for at least the same price as an Ultegra 10-speed groupset. With that in mind, I'd personally spec it out with:

These are all personal tastes, and your boat may float to the tune of a different liquid.

HillRider

You need a different dealer. Yours is trying to rob you. Typically, Centaur is about as expensive, or very slightly cheaper than Ultegra, Chorus runs the same as or just under Dura Ace and Record is way up there by itself. Look in the mailorder catalogs or on-line dealers for relative price comparisons among the groups.

CrowesFan

Can you suggest some online retailers for full modern Campy sets? I just got a 70's Viner frame and I want to build it up with a full Campy outfit. It has the Italian threaded BB.

Thank you!

HillRider

Colorado Cyclists (www,coloradocyclist.com) has complete gruppos and individual components at both Chorus and Record levels. Excel Sports (www.excelsports.com) offers Campy all the way down to Veloce.