Can't really find any information on this stuff. I know its not exactly 'vintage', but Campy no longer makes it so I figure'd I start in C+V.

Thanks

If I remember correctly, they had to drop the name for infringement. So, the group level lived on but a different name. I don't recall the revision.

It became Centaur

That would make it lower-mid level.
-Gene-

Centaur to me became Campy's best overall value.

Certainly enough quality for criteriums.

Plenty nice for daily riding.

Looks great in its alloy version. imho

Priced right. Careful shopping a year ago allowed me to get shifters, brake calipers, (Record) crank, and front and rear derailleurs for under $500.

So 2009 Centaur was the right choice for me if I'm buying a new gruppo.

Here's a pic of Centaur on my wife's De Rosa.



and a virtually identical gruppo on my Merckx.

When I was building up my CAAD 4 Cannondale with mostly Centaur and Comp Triple components, my original Campy seatpost was ruined by a burr in the seat tube.

I found a NIB Daytona seatpost for a good price. Interestingly, it has a very thin walled steel post and an aluminum mounting head. It is very light.

No, that would make it above Ultegra but below DA. There's nothing at all mid level about Daytona/Centaur.

There were two versions of the seatpost. The first, like yours, and another all alloy version.

Daytona replaced Athena as the name of the next tier below Chorus when it first came out - have to check my catalogs to see the year, probably early 9 speed. It had almost Chorus level shifters, derailleurs and brake shoes, but the Veloce level cranks with the wider BB spindle and heavier chainrings. Then Centaur replaced Daytona's name. Then Athena came back above Centaur when 11 speed was introduced.

I didn't know Athena 11 speed was higher that Centaur. . . learn something new every day.

Centaur and Veloce had different chainrings. the Centaur rings were more substantial, and I think forged rather than drop stamped?

Marty

I think the Daytona name was phased out in 2001, due to trademark issues. My 2002 Casati had Daytona 10speed Ergo shifters w/a 10s Chorus drivetrain (and strangely enough Centaur brake calipers), so the Daytona line did extend to 10s.

Looks good!
PS - What bars are those???

The order of the current groups in the campy website is:

Super Record
Record
Chorus
Athena
Centaur
Veloce

anything below Athena is 10sp, the rest 11sp. As far as price comparisons with other groups go (MSPR), the electonic shifting DA DI2 tops them all by far, DA 7900 is a little more than Record, Ultegra is a little more than Athena and 105 at Centaur level. SRAM Red is between Record and Chorus, Force just below Athena and Rival at Veloce levels.

This timeline seems to fit. My "new" 2000 Bob Jackson has mostly Daytona components. They work great and look nice.

Hi Andy,

Thank you. It is a nice rider, that's for certain.

Nitto Noodles with Nitto Pearl stem. Noodles are my go to bar, as they are super comfy.

The ramps make the bar work just right for me.

Man, Campy stuff is confusing! I guess Veloce is on par with Shimano 105?

It used to be something like this

Record- No Comparison
Chorus-Dura Ace
Centaur-Ultegra
Veloce-105

Campagnolo dumped Xenon and Mirage but added Athena. Athena seemed to have taken Centaur's place, which took Athena's place in 2000. With Campy it seems like everything comes full circle.

Jet, Its really not that bad.

Maybe on the Chorus/DA analogy for "me" though.

I have 10 speed Chorus on my Tommasini, but I am not overly enamored with the feel of the hoods after some miles, let's say fifty or so. Doesn't fit my hands as well as Centaur.

Probably just another "me" thing though.

Performance wise, it would give up nothing to DA though. Function is spot on.

The Pinarello FP3 I rode in Italy last year was set up with ten speed DA, and it rocked. I rode a Vanilla with Record two weekends ago, and I can't say I enjoyed it any more than DA.

The "fit" counts as well when you start adding up miles.

Also, Campy seems to have set up this "issue" with Centaur regarding alloy levers.

They really need to get these back into the market.

I really don't want to give in and buy carbon Campy products for my "classic" Italian bikes.

I agree, I wish there was a Record 11 group in all alloy. To me, black carbon is way too modern for a nice steel Italian frame!

it's more like:

SR - no comparison
R- DA
C - no comparison
Athena - Ultegra
Centaur (it still exists) no comparison
Veloce - 105

currently. At earlier points it was all slightly different, with the DA 7410, for example comparing to the top Campy level (one can argue that the electronic shifting DA is above SR as well now...) I had a chance to have a look at the new Athena and I really like it consmetically. It has a mid 90s retro look (option) which departs from all the black CF look parts and would be very appropriate for older bikes.

Mirage and Xenon were pretty entry level and Campy (correctly) decided to get out of the entry stuff.

One step below Chorus is "lower-mid level"??? So you'd say the same about Ultegra?

SP
Bend, OR

Forgive me, I honestly thought it was. I have trouble remembering the order of things below Chorus.
-Gene-

K, thanks. I have two high end frame with 9-speed Veloce components and I just wondered why they would have been outfitted with a lower group. Cost maybe?