Veloce or Centaur, which to buy?
 

Okay,

the last poll on the shoes really helped, so I thought maybe i'd ask again about a component group.

I just bought a frame off e-bay. Univega Modo Vincere. Columbus thron OS chromo w kinesis cf fork. Same model & colors as this one:

http://westfailure.net/~jester/modo.jpg

So, now I need components. I decided to go with a lightly used frame and new parts. I want new shifting and nobody elses drivetrain neglect :)

For now I will build "training" quality wheels and see if I really get into this stuff hard-core before spending big bucks on a wheelset. That is why I specced the cheap hubs either way. (as of 2001 veloce hubs use the same lockrings as record/chorus/centaur)

anyhow, would you save the $185 and go with Veloce, or bite the bullet and step up to Centaur?

also, I do tend to get in and out of hobbies. Some stay around for years, some don't. So, I am also trying to soften the blow should I loose interest as well. However, if my interest proved to be durable i'm sure i'd end up with a use for an extra group if i went with Veloce and decided to upgrade down the line.

all suggestions appreciated. (other than to go shimaNO, heh.)

thanks,

Jester

I would go with centaur, the components should last longer and shift smoother. I love my 10sp record and centaur. It only hurts for a few minutes when you buy it :) From my looking at prices the difference is only around $120, so see i saved you $69 right away :)

i'm buying a veloce group when i pay off my new bike. i've got a bianchi frame sitting in my basement waiting to be built up again. my situation is probably a little different than yours though as this bianchi isn't going to be my primary bike, just something to use for recovery rides.

with that said, back when it was my primary bike, the veloce group that was on there treated me well through all conditions (except winter. i didnt ride it during the winter.)

The veloce 9s mechanism is the same as the old Record 9s so now better shifting there.
I'd go with Centaur with Centaur Hubs. They're better sealed anfd have a larger bearing race than the veloce's so they'll last longer and run smoother.

Centaur with Veloce hubs is a waste of money.

Veloce with centaur hubs or

Full centaur

Looks like a nice ride. I would go with the Centaur group. I rode with a Daytona (Centaur before the name change) group and before that with an Athena group for several years before that. Both were great and served me very well. The higher quality materials/design in the Ergo levers will result in better shifting and longer life. Personally, I would up-grade the BB to at least the Chorus for a matter of weight savings and longer life. The Centaur is fine, but the BB is the one part that gets the most wear, other than the hubs.

BTW, rode with a fellow on a Univega this weekend and he liked very much. Not sure what company owns the name, but they also bought the Raliegh name and a couple of other more obscure names and only make bike under the Raliegh name now. But go for the Centaur. You'll be glad you did after years and years of excellent service.

If you buy from Colorado Cyclist they have some special deals when you buy a group with wheels they build. I have had excellent results from their wheels, having put more than 10,000 miles on a couple of sets of them. They will build you a set of Campy Protons on whatever hubset you select and throw in a decent set of tires and tubes at no cost. And their prices are generally pretty competitive.

Good luck and have fun!!

if the $185 won't hurt you, go with centaur. veloce is a fine group, but centaur really is a bit better. the main thing is the 10-speed shifting and the fact that the upgrade path to chorus or even record is much easier with 10-speed.

i have daytona/centaur on two bikes, and it performs flawlessly. it's 9-speed on my 'cross bike, i admit, but it has performed well through conditions that even mountain bikers would call extreme.

great stuff.

by the way, veloce will be 10-speed for 2004.

add another voice for Centaur. Closer tolerances and better
fit and finish than the Veloce.
I'd be careful about the BB spindles tho, I believe that
Centaur, Veloce etc. are 68 x 111mm and
Chorus and Record are 68 x 102mm.
(both the above also available in either 68 0r 70 mm width)

Marty

What price source do you have- if the prices are as much lower as the difference that source might be good to know .

Thanks for the encouragement on the Univega :) I am looking forward to getting it and hoping it works out.

I did some research and you can't upgrade the bottom bracket on Centaur without going "all the way" and upgrading the cranks too. record/chorus take one BB and centaur/veloce/mirage another.

Why they made half their cranks one way and the other half another, I can't really fathom, well, except to make more money.

I am kind of leaning toward the Veloce to start out with, and if I really get into biking again, send that group down to "commuter" duty and then buy Chorus for long term/primary bike use.

I read that 9 spd is a bit more durable and less tempramental than 10 sp, so maybe having a 9sp bike isn't as big a drawback as I thought at first? better for cyclocross later, if i want to go that way.

I change my mind which way to go every few hours... I'll let you all know when I finally decide :)

take care,

Jester

Go with the Centaur, its definitley worth it, the design is similar to the Record without the carbon. Its also much lighter than veloce.

Your correct about the BB upgrade. I speced my bike out with a mix of Centaur and Chorus and wanted a Chorus BB so I went with the cranks as well. I'm running Centaur for the brakes and derailures though and am so far very please. They are performing great, I would spend the extra money and get the Centaur if I was you.

I checked prices at gearlink and excel sports. Gearlink did not carry the veloce group so I compared between those to.

Ahh, I found lower prices than that on Veloce:

Veloce, complete with hubs I found for $379.99 at repartocorse.com and Centaur at the same site for $639

So, without going down a notch to Veloce hubs the diff would be $260 or so... I found a place or two in europe with slightly lower prices on Centaur, but the shipping and duties would about even it out. Say if i was really thrifty and patient I could get Centaur down another $20-30 at the most.

Now I just have to decide what to do. The vote here has been almost unanimously for centaur, though fore had owned a veloce group and had good things to say about it.

take care,

Jester