stirring the pot . . . yet again
02-06-03, 05:16 PM
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stirring the pot . . . yet again
We haven't had a good Campy vs. Shimano war of polemics around here in a while . . . soooooooooo here is a stimulating article from the weekly newsletter from roadbikerider.com
Have fun!
2. UNCLE AL'S RANT: Campy/Shimano Comparison
DEAR UNCLE AL: A bike dealer told me that Campagnolo
Centaur is on about the same level as Shimano Ultegra. I
always assumed that Chorus was the same as Ultegra. Can
you give me a comparison of these groups? -- Steve W.
UNCLE AL FIRES BACK: Comparing Campagnolo to Shimano
is like apples to oranges. Well, almost.
Campy Record stands alone, both in price and beauty. All
that carbon stuff sure is purty. Record works the same as
Chorus, but it's lighter.
Chorus and Dura-Ace are more or less equal, but Shimano's
group costs a bit more.
Your dealer is correct in equating Centaur to Ultegra. It's
as close a comparison as you can make, although Centaur
comes in 9- or 10-speeds and Ultegra is only 9.
If you go with Centaur and up, or Shimano 105 and up, you
won't be sorry.
The biggest difference I see when comparing the two
companies is their respective brake/shift levers -- Campy
Ergopower vs. STI Dual Control. Some roadies much prefer the
Ergo thumb button as opposed to the dual swing levers of the
STI system. And vice versa.
On winter rides, I'm reminded that STI can be difficult to
use when wearing heavy gloves. The separately located Ergo
shifters are easier in that situation.
The systems have a different feel, but both work really
well. Quality-wise, it's a wash. I've seen about the same
failure rate with either system. Failure is rare, though,
and both systems are repairable.
If you're a Campy fan, no amount of coaxing will change your
mind. If you like the feel and features of Shimano, then
that's what you need. I advise new cyclists to ride bikes
with Ergo and STI to find which they prefer.
If you do decide on Campy, go with 10-speed. It's easier to
get parts than it is for Campy's 9-speed. And 10 cogs back
there look extra cool!
One other observation (this will get me in trouble): Campy
users are emotional about their equipment. Shimano users
are more stoical.
RBR veterans will remember that this isn't the first time I've
compared and contrasted equipment from these two
companies. You can find some of that blather on our website
by eyeballing the index at www.roadbikerider.com/UArant.htm.
Or try the site's new search engine.
Have fun!
2. UNCLE AL'S RANT: Campy/Shimano Comparison
DEAR UNCLE AL: A bike dealer told me that Campagnolo
Centaur is on about the same level as Shimano Ultegra. I
always assumed that Chorus was the same as Ultegra. Can
you give me a comparison of these groups? -- Steve W.
UNCLE AL FIRES BACK: Comparing Campagnolo to Shimano
is like apples to oranges. Well, almost.
Campy Record stands alone, both in price and beauty. All
that carbon stuff sure is purty. Record works the same as
Chorus, but it's lighter.
Chorus and Dura-Ace are more or less equal, but Shimano's
group costs a bit more.
Your dealer is correct in equating Centaur to Ultegra. It's
as close a comparison as you can make, although Centaur
comes in 9- or 10-speeds and Ultegra is only 9.
If you go with Centaur and up, or Shimano 105 and up, you
won't be sorry.
The biggest difference I see when comparing the two
companies is their respective brake/shift levers -- Campy
Ergopower vs. STI Dual Control. Some roadies much prefer the
Ergo thumb button as opposed to the dual swing levers of the
STI system. And vice versa.
On winter rides, I'm reminded that STI can be difficult to
use when wearing heavy gloves. The separately located Ergo
shifters are easier in that situation.
The systems have a different feel, but both work really
well. Quality-wise, it's a wash. I've seen about the same
failure rate with either system. Failure is rare, though,
and both systems are repairable.
If you're a Campy fan, no amount of coaxing will change your
mind. If you like the feel and features of Shimano, then
that's what you need. I advise new cyclists to ride bikes
with Ergo and STI to find which they prefer.
If you do decide on Campy, go with 10-speed. It's easier to
get parts than it is for Campy's 9-speed. And 10 cogs back
there look extra cool!
One other observation (this will get me in trouble): Campy
users are emotional about their equipment. Shimano users
are more stoical.
RBR veterans will remember that this isn't the first time I've
compared and contrasted equipment from these two
companies. You can find some of that blather on our website
by eyeballing the index at www.roadbikerider.com/UArant.htm.
Or try the site's new search engine.
02-06-03, 07:07 PM
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So?? But seriously,I find it really hard to tell the difference between a 9 cog and 10 cog cassette.So much for the cool factor.Now the Record carbon bits,that 's another story.
02-06-03, 07:57 PM
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If money does'nt matter I would pick record but since it does matter I have to go with dura-ace as it is also a little lighter.
02-06-03, 08:14 PM
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We drive on the left.
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If the Campag has an Ergo thumb button to change down gears, how can it be reached from the drops?
serious question.
Mark
serious question.
Mark
02-06-03, 10:05 PM
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If you got either one,that must mean you have a pretty dam nice bike so give me either one.
02-06-03, 10:13 PM
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My friend and I have both raced with Dura-Ace AND Record. I currently am using Campy, and he, Shimano.
In terms of weight, Campy has lighter shift-levers, and Shimano has lighter Crank/BB setup. The weight difference in the end is that shimano is 10 or 20 grams lighter -- who cares?
Both my friend AND myself agree that Campy Record breaks are significantly stronger in terms of breaking power than the Dura-Ace (stronger is better). This is probably because the front caliper is beefier, and therefore stiffer. Campy's lighter single-pivot break in the rear makes the overall breaksets weight almost the same.
We also both agree that Shimano's crank/BB system is vastly superior to Campy's. It's quite a bit lighter, and with the splined system, is also stiffer.
In terms of shifter prefference -- it comes down to how you like to possition your hands, either can be better for an individual, but I personally like the flatish tops of the ergopower.
I run FSA team cranks, and FSA titanium ISIS drive BB for what I personally think, equates to the finest grupo. It's got the Campy stuff where it's ligher than the DA, and I choose not to run the Campy cranks, which I think are worse than the DA.
Although I prefer Record, I'm not particularly passionate about it, nor do I dislike DA. Either way you go, you have no excuses excect your own weakness when you lose a race -- and that's why I run nice components in the first place: NO EXCUSES.
- Maurizio
In terms of weight, Campy has lighter shift-levers, and Shimano has lighter Crank/BB setup. The weight difference in the end is that shimano is 10 or 20 grams lighter -- who cares?
Both my friend AND myself agree that Campy Record breaks are significantly stronger in terms of breaking power than the Dura-Ace (stronger is better). This is probably because the front caliper is beefier, and therefore stiffer. Campy's lighter single-pivot break in the rear makes the overall breaksets weight almost the same.
We also both agree that Shimano's crank/BB system is vastly superior to Campy's. It's quite a bit lighter, and with the splined system, is also stiffer.
In terms of shifter prefference -- it comes down to how you like to possition your hands, either can be better for an individual, but I personally like the flatish tops of the ergopower.
I run FSA team cranks, and FSA titanium ISIS drive BB for what I personally think, equates to the finest grupo. It's got the Campy stuff where it's ligher than the DA, and I choose not to run the Campy cranks, which I think are worse than the DA.
Although I prefer Record, I'm not particularly passionate about it, nor do I dislike DA. Either way you go, you have no excuses excect your own weakness when you lose a race -- and that's why I run nice components in the first place: NO EXCUSES.
- Maurizio
02-06-03, 11:07 PM
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Originally posted by Dutchy
If the Campag has an Ergo thumb button to change down gears, how can it be reached from the drops?
serious question.
Mark
If the Campag has an Ergo thumb button to change down gears, how can it be reached from the drops?
serious question.
Mark
02-07-03, 05:50 PM
#9
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I am using a Dura Ace Groupo, i like the STI shifter, and it is very good, but if money is not a question I will buy a Campy Record
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"Racso", the well oiled machine;)
"Racso", the well oiled machine;)
02-07-03, 08:17 PM
#10
Just ride.
Never ridden Campy, but was impressed when a friend pulled in front of me, said "watch this", and immediately upshifted half his cog-set.
02-12-03, 06:19 PM
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I have raced on both systems and to my amazement; between Italy and Japan nobody has made a perfect component group.
Firstly, the weight difference is so small, if you get a haircut, eat a power bar, wait for that extra drop, or cut your toe nails you have made up the gram difference
Campy and Shimano break, and if you think that you can get replacement parts for Campy, your wrong, unless you work in the factory, or know somebody who does, you aren’t gonna get them for a while. Campy is more expensive to replace. Campyusa is a bad company.
Both crank sets are stiff.
The campy shifters have a lot of small plastic parts. My record rear shifter broke, spontaneously – and I had a chorus for the rest of the season because nobody had the small part, and I am too poor to buy multiple sets of Campy shifters. I ‘personally’ like the Shimano shifter shape better, it is more traitional, the shifters bother work better and worse with certain bar makes, for example Campy works well with Deda, and Shimano works well with ITM.
Campy chains break.
Just ride, who cares, but if you get at least Athena, or Ultegra, and you loose a race because of a ‘mechancal’ it’s your own damn falult.
Amen
Firstly, the weight difference is so small, if you get a haircut, eat a power bar, wait for that extra drop, or cut your toe nails you have made up the gram difference
Campy and Shimano break, and if you think that you can get replacement parts for Campy, your wrong, unless you work in the factory, or know somebody who does, you aren’t gonna get them for a while. Campy is more expensive to replace. Campyusa is a bad company.
Both crank sets are stiff.
The campy shifters have a lot of small plastic parts. My record rear shifter broke, spontaneously – and I had a chorus for the rest of the season because nobody had the small part, and I am too poor to buy multiple sets of Campy shifters. I ‘personally’ like the Shimano shifter shape better, it is more traitional, the shifters bother work better and worse with certain bar makes, for example Campy works well with Deda, and Shimano works well with ITM.
Campy chains break.
Just ride, who cares, but if you get at least Athena, or Ultegra, and you loose a race because of a ‘mechancal’ it’s your own damn falult.
Amen
