Hi, about to embark on my first campag build on an old Pinarello. I have secured most of an early 2000s Chorus groupset without shifters. Chorus shifters of this era seem hard to come by. A few searches seem to indicate that a modern set of Shifters should work but references to Quick Shift, Ultra Shift, Escape etc. have me worried. Can anyone shed some more light on this?

many thanks,

G'co

Escape is an abomination like Shimano and SRAM levers that only allows you to shift one cog smaller per lever push versus five cogs for second generation/Ultrashift and all the way across the cassette for first generation (pointed hoods, 8 speed and 1997 9 speed + 1998 Athena) ergo levers (but your thumb might not reach that far and you don't need it because even on a compact double with a tight cassette the next gear is just five cogs away when changing rings). It was applied to the Veloce and Centaur groups in 2007-2008 but started a few years before that in the low-end Xenon group.

Quick Shift is a front derailleur ratio change that people confuse with Escape because they both showed up on Centaur/Veloce levers for the 2007 and 2008 model years. You can still get new Record and Chorus 10 speed QS levers (they shift five cogs smaller just like all other Record/Chorus levers, use the second generation rounded hood shape, and have G-spring internals with small parts still sold) from Ribble and other UK sources. Pairing a QS derailleur with an Ultrashift lever may yield an extra index notch between big and small rings and might be a problem with triple QS front derailleurs paired with Ultrashift levers since all 6 clicks are used for a triple.

I think the "Ultra" stamp on second generation levers corresponds to the coated right index cam and came along so that people wouldn't confuse Quick Shift with the loathed Escape mechanism. The Record levers with red "Ultra" on front were a pro-tour part with the older stiffer G-springs.

Ultrashift is the third generation lever shape introduced in 2009 with the traditional five-cog-smaller behavior we've grown to love over the last 20 years and a front ratio change back. The G-springs were eliminated so rebuild frequency will be reduced. Campagnolo also stopped selling the Ultrashift small parts (apart from the plastic bit the cable wraps around) in the middle of 2009, so if you do wear out a shift lever return spring you'll be buying a replacement shifter (sans mounting hardware, hood, and brake blade) for $90-$100. 2009 10 speed Ultrashift levers had weak detents so you don't want them. NOS 2010 Centaur Carbon Ultrashift levers are a possibility for about $200 imported from Shiny Bikes in the UK. With the included cable set running $40+ by itself total price can be comparable to used levers on E-bay. The Centaur carbon levers are identical to Record/Chorus apart from 10 speed index cam and brake blade cosmetics (Super Record changes out the rear ratchets to save 10g a pair). I bought a set of the Centaur levers before they disappeared while I milked the few remaining miles out of my last 9 speed chain. 2009/2010 Veloce levers also used the Ultrashift design.

Powershift is the current incarnation of Escape (one cog smaller) but with the new lever shape. All new-shaped 10 speed lever sets solid in 2011 and beyond are Powershift. You don't want them.

Classic silver anodized second generation levers (early Daytona/Centaur 2000-2007, early Chorus, Veloce 2007 and older but not black) would probably look most correct but will have to be acquired used off E-bay. They're easily rebuilt (the hardest parts are adjusting the rear derailleur followed by taping the bars which you'll be doing anyways) to function like new and I'd put in a new set of G-springs (< $10) while they're off the bike (You might also need to replace the $10 G-spring carrier).

Pointed hoods - I have a LHS ergo lever with pointed hoods. Where can I get a replacement rubber hood for that unit?

Your favorite Campagnolo small parts source.


Excel Sports Boulder https://www.excelsports.com/main.asp?...or=11&minor=12 has them for $30/pair. Branford lists them for $37/pair https://branfordbike.com/product/08campagnolo-ergo-lever-hoods-796.htm

thanks - I only need one for the LHS, but now I have the SKU!

Brandfords old site was xlnt.

new one is ok.

https://branfordbike.com/articles/ergo-levers-pg63.htm

I was in the same boat you were several years ago. Drew did a nice job of explaining the different shifters. He forgot to mention that Campy changed actuation ratio on the derailleurs when they brought out 10 sp. So all 8 sp and pre 2000 9 sp use old style derailleurs and shifters. They are different. Campy used to make an 8 sp Ergo gear for the new 2001 - 2006 shifters. Alas it no longer exists. I would keep checking out ebay for old units. Good luck.

Many thanks for the advice, explanation and recommendations, especially Drew. I will make ebay my best friend.

@cs1 - many thanks for the additional info, I was toying with trying to use a 9sp set of shifters that I have been offered. I will limit the search to 10sp from now on.

G'co

What I did when I went from 8 to 9/10 is swap the cassette hub body out for a new style. Chorus and below used a steel axle. The new hub body is https://www.ebay.com/itm/Campagnolo-9...item5d3193529b

If you have a Record with it's oversize AL axle you need this https://www.ebay.com/itm/Campagnolo-O...item256a846bf2

All Campy freehubs come with new springs and pawls. The wheel needs to be redished. This saves having to buy a new wheel. Now your old 8 sp wheels will look identical to before but you can use 9/10/11 cassettes. The rest of the conversion to 9/10 basically requires new rear derailleur, cassette, chain and shifters. The crankset and brakes will work fine. Actually the old brakes work great but are a bit heavier than current models.
If you were missing the derailleur instead of the shifter then it's an easier solution. You could use a current 10 sp rear and a Shiftmate from Jtek to make 8 sp shifters work with 9/10 sp rear derailleurs. Use model #1. Good luck