I am looking at a bike tomorrow (a keeper) and it looks like it might have an 8sp Veloce group with ergos. I really like the way my 8sp Record/Chorus mix works, but never rode that particular Veloce group. Any experiences out there with it? How does it compare to Chorus (function wise?)

Thank you!

Well, I believe the Veloce will be a bit heavier and the paddles on the shift levers are plastic instead of aluminum. However, I am a Campagnolo fanatic and even modern Campagnolo Veloce groups perform outstandingly. Currently, Veloce is just below Centaur in their line up, so it is a bit of an entry group in modern day. But, Campagnolo parts are very user serviceable no matter the group, and the 8speed stuff was classic. I've ridden several bikes with it and love it. It works well, and it's Campy.

My vote is that you buy the bike and take lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of pictures for us.

Like DRietz said, the 8 speed Veloce should work fine. The only difference with record is the outside, the innards are the same (or almost the same) as Record.

My long term personal experience was with Veloce 9 speed - RD shifts were a bit louder and slightly more "mechanical" than with Chorus but no less reliable. I had a one week experience (couple of years back) with Veloce 8 spd on a friend's bike and it was very crisp and precise with the shifts, but his bike was very low mileage. I've always liked the FD trim feature.

I thought all the Veloce shift levers were Al (9spd levers definately Al). Was Mirage plastic?

I have NOS 8 speed levers, the small inside lever is plastic, the brake lever aluminium.

How do you like them?

I am not using them, just part of my collection of bikeparts.

Did not happen. I really do not need another bike, but this was a Celeste Bianchi and I could have added it to replace a bike, if all right. Crappy seller pictures, no model ID, Celeste with simpler blue decals, Campy ergos on the bike with dark shifters (i.e. not Record), lugged frame, nice price. My guess was either an early 90s Bianchi Veloce or a late 80s bike redone with Ergos and an 8sp drivetrain. Proved to be a 1997 Bianchi Trofeo, which is still nothing to cry about and it was in wonderful shape, but it was a tad too big (but still doable) and had Avanti derailleurs and brakes, Mirage ergos and a Miche crank on a Dedacciai Zero Tre frame. Not an upgrade on any bike I have right now (the bike I had slated to go to make room for it was my '87 Super Sport that actually is a better bike), excellent price for a user (and, since I did not get it, I can tell: it was $250), but not for a flip, so I had to pass.... No pictures