Campy Centaur - Alloy v Carbon?

rokkala
rokkala Posts: 649
edited June 2009 in Road buying advice
Hey, quick question. Is the extra £100 or so for the Centaur 10spd Ultra-Torque Carbon Double Groupset worth it over the Alloy version, any real gains/benefits? Or would it be money much better spent elsewhere?

Comments

  • neonwarhead
    neonwarhead Posts: 96
    Only advantage I'm aware of is the lower weight - Campag have full specs on their website. Is the £/gram worth it to you, and how does it compare with spending the same cash on another component?
  • zedders
    zedders Posts: 509
    Looks better too!
    "I spend my petrol money on Bikes, Beer, Pizza, and Donuts "

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  • ratherbeintobago
    ratherbeintobago Posts: 636
    zedders wrote:
    Looks better too!

    Not sure I agree - polished alloy has a certain something...

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  • daviesee
    daviesee Posts: 6,386
    ratherbeintobago wrote:
    zedders wrote:
    Looks better too!

    Not sure I agree - polished alloy has a certain something...

    RBIT

    Especially on Colnago steel :P
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • rokkala
    rokkala Posts: 649
    Thanks, on another note, looking at getting the ITM k sword handlebars. Is it advisable or necessary to use a carbon stem as well, or are alloy stems equally ok for carbon bars?
  • pianoman
    pianoman Posts: 706
    I think you might get away with "alloy-carbon-fibre-wrapped" as it is the best of both worlds.

    There aren't as many all-carbon stems as carbon bars out there, you could try the ITM Visia as an alloy-carbon option.

    I use Deda bars and stem which are both wrapped in carbon fibre. They look like equipment costing four times as much - but they don't. It's all about the bling :P
  • rokkala
    rokkala Posts: 649
    Yea the ITM Visia alloy-carbon was the one i had in mind, i dont mind the stem not being carbon, i just want to know iit will be good to hold the carbon bars!
  • pianoman
    pianoman Posts: 706
    I think that it's an excellent all-round option, you get the comfort and "bling" of carbon with the economy and practicality of alloy - in a crash the bars can be the first thing to hit the deck, sending a big shock to the stem, and what chance of controlling the bike do you have in the event of stem delamination?

    Go for the Visia - you won't regret it :D
  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    I've got the Centaur carbon groupset for 2009.
    Only just got the carbon chainset which was to replace the alloy Centaur chainset.
    All in all the Carbon cranks look pretty dam fine.I do actually prefer them to the alloy ones now.
    I do think the alloy Ergo's have one benifit though and thats the alloy inner lever for shifting up the gears.The carbons come with a resin lever which I always feel flexes a little.
    People including myself do seem to think that the alloy brake levers are fragile and will break in a fall.If you think about it if you fall wrong any lever will break.
    I never factor in me fallling off when making a purchase, if I did I would never buy a carbon frame etc.Just buy what catches your eye and enjoy it.
  • rokkala
    rokkala Posts: 649
    Thanks again. Yea thats a fair point wappy. Ive fell once in last 4 years, thought with numerous close calls :D So hopefully should be fine(touchwood).

    Piano, think you misunderstood slightly, or ive misinterpreted you. I think you think im going for Visia bars & stem.

    What i mean is, i like the look of the ITM K Sword Carbon handlebars, pretty certain going to go for them. But i want to know if an alloy or carbon coated alloy stem is fine for holding an all carbon handlebar? Or do i really need to go for all carbon stem too?
  • Ash_
    Ash_ Posts: 385
    With the alloy cranks, and a bit of elbow grease, you can do this:
    centaur-2.jpg
    Which I think looks better than any carbon crankset.
  • fast as fupp
    fast as fupp Posts: 2,277
    Ash_ wrote:
    With the alloy cranks, and a bit of elbow grease, you can do this:
    centaur-2.jpg
    Which I think looks better than any carbon crankset.


    this elbow grease- do wiggle sell it? :D
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  • Slow Downcp
    Slow Downcp Posts: 3,041
    Ash_ wrote:
    With the alloy cranks, and a bit of elbow grease, you can do this:
    centaur-2.jpg
    Which I think looks better than any carbon crankset.

    Yeah but they must be a bugger to pedal, with both pedals on the downstroke at the same time. :lol:
    Carlsberg don't make cycle clothing, but if they did it would probably still not be as good as Assos
  • acorn_user
    acorn_user Posts: 1,137
    I think the money would be better spent on the carbon group than carbon handlebars. But aren't the K-Swords one of the bar/stem integrated combos anyway?

    Btw, Centaur carbon chainsets come with worse chainrings than the alloy ones.
  • Gav2000
    Gav2000 Posts: 408
    Wappygixer wrote:
    I do think the alloy Ergo's have one benifit though and thats the alloy inner lever for shifting up the gears.The carbons come with a resin lever which I always feel flexes a little.

    My Xenon levers used to have a resin/plastic gear lever behind the brake lever. I'm not sure his is a good point for the carbon set!
    Gav2000

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