i am sure you could use record calipers with shimano stuff right? but can u use other components interchangeably? also if you were to go 10 spd from nine what has to be changed and can u upgrade slowly? cant a dura ace rr or fr be used with 9 or 10 speed???

Brakes and cranksets don't matter too much (regarding compatibility). Campy and Shimano drivetrain components are generally not compatible. 9 speed Shimano shifters are compabile with 10 speed Shimano derailleurs and vice versa. You will need the right cassette, of course.

so i could use a 10 speed front derailer or rear derailer with 9 spd shifters and cassette? or would a 10 spd cassette be needed as well although one gear wont be used?

Basically if you don't know what you are doing, just don't do it. You got oversimplified by the muppet contingent. Cog spacing is different for both shimano campy for 9 and 10 speed. Hub bodies have different spline patterns and cassettes don't interchange, Shifter pull ratios and RD throw ratios are incompatible. A campy FD won't necessarily work with STI due to indexing and arm length differences. There are ways around most of it like differnet cable mounts at the RD, jtek shiftmate, aftermarket respaced cassettes, but you have to know all the ins and outs. Basically, cranks don't care as long as you hook them up with the right BB..

I use a 10sp RD and a 10sp crankset with my 9sp group. No problems at all. Actually, I'm temporarily using an 8sp cassette with no problems -- just a wasted click is all.

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but since Campy puts the quick release for their brakes into the lever, and Shimano puts the QR on the brake caliper itself, mixing Campy Calipers with Shimano Levers means no convient way to open the calipers for tire changes.

Steve W.

True but you could make it work with skinny tires.

A thinking person just might not even do that,but if you run campy levers with shimano calipers you have 2 quick releases.