james57

The only application for this kind of ratio would be in on a salt lake behind a car trying to beat a high speed record ..

khuon

Don't forget downhill MTBing.

pinky

Mile a Minute Murphy. 104 inches and did the mile in 57 seconds. Of course he was chasing a train (and ended up ramming it...)

james57

Now seriously .. MTB .. would you really go that fast AND pedal (ie: pushing not coasting) at the same time ? .. we are not talking about those weirdos at Les Arcs going down with skin suits ? ..

khuon

That depends on how badly you want to win. Also remember that powering through the turn also sometimes means better control.

pntlssffrr

I have Ultegra on my C'dale and Record on my Calfee. Ultegra works fine and has lasted a long time, BUT... The Record Ergo hoods/levers just feel right in my hands; they are significantly smaller. I LOVE the thumb shifters; the ability to drop down 2, 3 or more gears for a sprint, attack, or whatever is sweeeet. I do it just because I can sometimes. The trim on the FD is very sweet, especially for a triple because it offers a wider range of gears per chainring, which is especially nice on the ten speed '04.

But alas, both these make all great components. If either product was inferior, they wouldn't be in business for long. It's nice to have a choice and to have something to "discuss" ad nauseum. It's almost as good as Mac vs. PC. Any cycling geeks out there doubling as computer geeks?

Suffer on!

dcrocker

I prefer the Shimano use of graduated quick release on the brake calipers. Campy has a on/off release built into the brake lever. But I can fine tune braking with Shimano, even if I break a spoke mid-race.

If you're not a top-level racer, you have to be aware that you're paying for some aesthetics on DA over Ultegra. To me, it's worth it, but I'd be kidding myself if I pretended that I warrant the performance edge. The nice thing about Campy is that they understand the importance of beauty at the lower levels, so you don't have to pay for Record to get a nice finish.

I sound like I'm waffling here, but I think I'd shop around for a slightly used 9-speed Chorus or 9-speed DA group (ebay?), and live with the slight differences, since either group can win the friggin' TdeF. As a sprinter, I do really prefer the shifting design of Campy, but look at all the sprints won on DA...

Like many other posters, I'm pretty much locked into one brand for shifting ease. One thing I strongly recommend is staying away from 10-speed. Increased wear, cost, and complexity for very little gain.

Serpico

jhkilmer

I've tried both, 9sp and 10spd, and I just think that Campy is higher quality, plain and simple. Shimano definitely has a good system, and I definitely think that their newer 10spd is better, but not up to campy standards. Bearing smoothness, drivetrain performance, and durability are definitely were campy stands out. I like that Shimano has been trying to innovate, I like companies like that, but they just need to up their quality standards a little more. I think Shimano is easier to setup, and is initially performs great, but requires more adjustment. Campy requires a higher degree of mechanical knowledge, but if setup properly works smoother longer. I like the ergonomics of Shimano, but Campy fits me just as well. Finally, Campy is just more pleasing to the eye. The new 10spd DA is very hard on the eyes with that huge chunk of Al for the crankset, and the shifters sticking off into no-man's land. Anyway, that's my two cents.

markhr

Campagnolo wins hands down. In fact it's not even a race more a white wash. More durable, cheaper, easier to rebuild, don't need to buy a whole new mechanism if a spring breaks, works and keeps working, doesn't start off good and then break, the list is almost endless.

Although shi*-mano do make good skewers (you'll see them on my bike). Apart from that I don't think I'll be joining the dark side any time soon if ever.

gcasillo

56-44 double? Is there something flatter than flat I don't know about?

gremelm

Well, make that 56-44 x 11-21 on flatter than flat, now that's fast!

markhr

yeah okay kind of went off there - having to buy new levers instead of replacing the broken part kind of blew shimano out of the water way back when.

apmech

Hey just to let you know, My friend and I just bought a pair of the 0G-05 brakeset. I'm running DA 9spd, and he is running Campy Ergo 10spd. The set up on these brakes are not very difficult, but does take a little more time when compared to setting up DA brakes. There is a breakin period, with the cables, but after 30-40 miles of riding everything will work great. Initially, the lever/brake action will feel like it's dragging alittle, but afterwards it will smooth out. Personally, I would say the braking force on the 0G are right up there with the DA dual pivot design.. so there you have it ! good luck!

khuon

It's funny you should post this because someone just sent me a PM and pointed me to this great review of Shimano vs. Campy vs. 0G brakes and it pretty much backs up what you're saying.

Patriot

Yup, that was me. Initially my veiw (until today), was that compared to DA and Campy brakes, the 0G's had always been a little on the light side for braking action. I test rode a DA equipped bike w/some DA brakes last year, and honestly didn't pay much attention to the brakes. Then I happened upon that article today on the PEZ site, which has a pretty good review of how the new 0G's have a more progressive action compared to the DA's and Record brakes. What can I say, I like my 0G-05ti's.

Now, if 0G would only come out with aftermarket group components (ders/shifters etc) to be compatible with Campy.

khuon

I have only been able to fondle the 0G brakes in an LBS but they seem of such high quality that I am inclined to agree with the reviewer in that article. I would love to see them start breaking into derailleurs and such. On a similar note, it'd be wonderful if SRAM would market a road group. I mentioned in a Mountain Biking forum thread that I thought it would great if SRAM bought Sun-Ringle. They'd be a headset away from offering a complete MTB group... and then it shouldn't be far to transition to a RB group.

ivan_yulaev

And my next bike build-up will be equipped with DA downtube shifters. Friction lasts longer and is lighter. I'll see how is it...worst case, I lost 50$ on a pair of DT shifters.

smoke

i've tried to like campy. i've read all the stuff, i know all the advantages, taken test rides on both it and dura-ace, i think campy looks a world better than shimano, but i just put dura-ace on my new bike. i have small hands and just can't reach the thumb lever on the campy without changing my position. i can manipulate the shimano levers from any position, and i've never accidentally braked while doing it (short fingers probably solves that). dura-ace works better for me, plain and simple