Recently I find myself becoming more and more entrenched with Shimano gear. For example I have two Shimano bikes (w/ shimano hubbed wheels) and I recently bought a pair of 105 hubs from performance that I'll eventually build up. [My passion are wheels and Shimano hubs are so cheap to buy in the US]

To make matters worse I'm so comfy with adjusting/working on my shimano drivetrains that I start justifying BS reasons why I should not switch over to Campy one day. (even though it's probably just as easy to adjust )

I guess I'm in a comfort zone with Brand "S" and wondering if anyone else think's this is happening to them (lol)

The funny thing is I think this happens to some mechanics at LBS's (so I've heard) . They are so used to working on Shimano they may not be enthusiastic to work on a campy bike.

Hopefully we'll see more component makers in the shifter/complete group market and this won't be a two manufacturer decision anymore. Aren't Shimano shifter patent's expiring? Good news on this front is that there will be a SRAM road group in the near future sometime.

P.S. I still have a quick link to Campy Only's rumor page because they always have interesting stuff on there.

I am a slap daddy for campy. I touch it and get excited. I see a picture of it gleaming and looking sexy and I get excited. I need help.

My parts bin shows SRAM ahead 9-2 - it might've been a sweep if they made bottom brackets and cranksets. May the PowerLink be with you... (Edit, whoops, I didn't know they owned Avid & Truvativ, and that Truvativ also makes BB's)

I definitely notice this in bike mechanics, and even salesmen when you talk to them about bikes equipped with different groups. Having used both, I am not necessarily more partial to one than the other, although I do think Campy Record equipped bikes look nicer....

I am. The stuff just works, and Campy is so under-represented in the market that I never even think about them. Also, Campy doesn't have the market cornered on aesthetically pleasing parts anymore, like in the 70's and 80's. I DO buy comparable SRAM stuff when it's cheaper, though, and they make quality stuff, too. I think one day I'll have a Campy'd -out bike, but not in the near future.

Campy = shwing! Shimano = zzzz...

Case closed.

I've been out of the game for over a decade ... around the time STIs first came about..
Now that I'm slowly crawling out from under my rock, I noticed a set of campagnolo brifters in a bike shop on Saturday ... and ... correct me if I'm wrong, but one can only comfortably downshift while resting on the hoods (that little thumb flicky doohickey)... eh ?

I shift from the drops with no problem.

4 bikes, no Shimano.

Campy, SunTour, Weinmann, Dia-Compe and Huret.

Can't wait for SRAM road group. I even think FSA should make some shifters and try to field a group.

Speaking of Shifter patents, does anyone know when the STI patent expires. It's been about 10 years right since they were introduced?

Same here....

My MTB is all shimano minus the cassette... My road bike is campy/FSA :) I just like the looks of Campy better and I like the brifters a lot better, too.

I seriously wonder what drugs the Shimano engineers were taking when they designed their hoods. They're horrible and just plain butt-ugly.

hrmmm. Perhaps I'll have to take a peek again one day, and ride a campy-adorned bike.
Thanks :-)

Don't ride one unless you plan on walking out with it ;)

I got big hands, so they suit me fine.

So do I, but I just found the ergonomics of the Campy stuff to be better. I'd ride Shimano if I couldn't get a Campy bike. It's not completely unbearable, but I just don't like the way the hoods are angled and how the shifters themselves seemed to be angled skyward. :(

Ditto

Yeah, Campy shifters are so much nicer looking. I definitely agree with that.

shimano is clearly more common on bikes sold in the US - but how about in Europe and elsewhere? what do you think is the global market share shimano vs campy on road bikes? share in the TdF?

I'm thinking that Campy may be better to shift in the drops, especially while sprinting. You don't have to loosen your grip as much to do it, just raise your thumb.

But I didn't say that. Shimano's my homie :D

I think its fairly evenly split in the tour, but remember Campy or Shimano give that stuff away to these teams for publicity. I would be intereseted to see what the numbers were in terms of the world market though.

Oh, there's no chance of that ... I wouldn't be seen WALKING my bike anyway :D

I have a feeling Campy is more popular in Europe though ( I see it carried more by overseas retailers than US right now....especially the lower Campag stuff). Problem with US market is that these massive online retailers (Performance, etc) practically give the Shimano stuff away.

I'd like to see it more balanced because right now I feel locked into buying Shimano due to price.

105 stuff is practically being given away right now with a 20% coupon (rear dearilleur $24, front and rear hubs $54 for the set, etc)

You'll see more Campy on high-end US bikes, but even at the >$2000 pricepoints it's still 90% (maybe even higher) Shimano it seems.

Monopolies are not good. That's why I'm hoping this STI patent expires so when can have more choices. Road parts are really expensive.