Italian bikes with Shimano

unixnerd

I've had experience of all 3, Campagnolo looked the best but I freaking HATED the shifting and found the hoods uncomfortable.

I must admit it was the design of the new Record shifters that attracted me to them, they look very comfy. My neighbour has a Scott with 105 drivetrain and Veloce shifters!

This is well worth a watch, there's a Part II as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdBxCmS5pXU
In fact I could spend hours drooling over their videos!

Anonymous

unixnerd wrote:

I must admit it was the design of the new Record shifters that attracted me to them, they look very comfy. !

That's basically the crux. People harp on about which groupset is best. They are all good but IMO it comes down to which hoods you find the most comfortable...

If I was going on aesthetics then it'd be SR11 all the way. I like what they've done with Athena too, looks good on classic bikes. Shame I just don't get on with it...

greasedscotsman

Can anyone explain why all the writing on a Campagnolo stuff is in English? Shouldn't it be in Italian? Guessing it's for the 'Merican market!

Anonymous

Indeed. Hence 'campy tech lab'...

Have a look on Italian eBay and you'll find most of the top bikes for sale have dura ace on...

StillGoing

SecretSam wrote:

Is it just me, or is there something deeply wrong about a Bianchi or Colnago decked out with Shimano? WTF is wrong with Campag? Italians always used to be very patriotic like that, but now they'll usually stick Shimano on their bikes

Don't get me wrong, my bikes have Shimano and I'm impressed, but that little extra 'zing' of cool from an all Italian bike...surely the performance of the relative groupsets is similar?

And where's SRAM made?

Naff all wrong with it. I have SRAM on my Basso simply because for me it's better than the Shimano or Campag equivelent for the price. Sticking Campag on an Italian bike just to keep it all Italian is folly.

oldwelshman

I have pinarello prince with dura ace, so whats the issue?
Pinarello most is only other stuff branded, the wheels are french!! Corima.
I have shimano on my willier, prince and winter bike so also need less tools and it is very reliable.

Ben6899

Berk Bonebonce wrote:

If Veloce wasn't so good, you would see more budget bikes with Campagnolo. In my experience, Veloce works every bit as good as Record.

It is lovely stuff indeed. I have Veloce on my Cadex and it shifts lovely.

twotyred

In the real world, many people can't get on with the Campy shifters and so HAVE to have SRAM or Shimano fitted

+1. If your hands are on the small side like mine Campag levers are a pain in the ass to get to when you are down on the drops.

Velonutter

Monty Dog wrote:

If you want to destroy the aesthetic of a beautiful bike by fitting the ugliest kit is existence don't let us stop you!

+1

eskimo Joe

Maybe its just a british thing. I visited the Colnago factory around the time when the 50th anniversary one came out, and I got the impression that they were pissed off with campag as they wouldnt do anything special for the 50th anniverasry bike , but shimano did put some special touches on their components for the bike

StillGoing

I wouldn't even call it group snobbery as the Shimano and SRAM offerings are every bit as good as Campag's. Some people are just so blinkered and reluctant to change they have to jump in on every thread of this type with shouts of "Campag is best". Strange to be watching the Giro then and see SRAM and Shimano being widely used, although I expect there'll be shouts of "They only use those groupsets because they get sponsored to".

It's a choice of operation, feel, asthetics and pricing. You makes your choice and you pays your money. I like the double tap system and can change gear up or down from the drops even with my small hands, riding on the hoods is more comfortable for me than the other brands, I like the look of the SRAM stuff and for the price I got a very good Force/Red combination groupset. Campag never entered my head because I knew I couldn't get on with the thumb levers. I also wasn't prepared to pay overinflated prices for an inferior groupset to what I got.

2alexcoo

It depends. On, say, a lugged steel Italian bike, polished alu Campag all the way. The nice thing about Campag is you can put relatively new stuff on a classic frame without spoiling the look. Early 2000s 10 speed Chorus (before the carbon era) is the best of both worlds with modern performance and classic looks.

On a new bike, as said before go with whatever you prefer. Italian brands are making Di2 versions of their frames now as they know that's what punters want.

bill57

I'm always amused by the fact that, whenever someone starts a thread on this subject, it's almost always the Campagnolo users who get their knickers in a twist and feel the need to defend their choice by slagging the opposition.

APIII

bill57 wrote:

I'm always amused by the fact that, whenever someone starts a thread on this subject, it's almost always the Campagnolo users who get their knickers in a twist and feel the need to defend their choice by slagging the opposition.

I think I must be reading a different thread to you. The addition of a or usually means it's just banter. Surely no one actually took the thread title seriously?

Stewie Griffin

There were no smiles when slagging off Alfas, owned mine for 10 years and its never been recalled because it might try and kill me. Unlike your reliable Toyotas.

marin_maniac

Stewie Griffin wrote:

There were no smiles when slagging off Alfas, owned mine for 10 years and its never been recalled because it might try and kill me. Unlike your reliable Toyotas.

Stopping every few miles whilst driving your Alfa to pick parts up off the road must get a bit time consuming though

Chip \'oyler

Marin Maniac wrote:

Stewie Griffin wrote:

There were no smiles when slagging off Alfas, owned mine for 10 years and its never been recalled because it might try and kill me. Unlike your reliable Toyotas.

Stopping every few miles whilst driving your Alfa to pick parts up off the road must get a bit time consuming though

:roll:

bill57

APIII wrote:

bill57 wrote:

I'm always amused by the fact that, whenever someone starts a thread on this subject, it's almost always the Campagnolo users who get their knickers in a twist and feel the need to defend their choice by slagging the opposition.

I think I must be reading a different thread to you. The addition of a or usually means it's just banter. Surely no one actually took the thread title seriously?

Lambs to the slaughter...................

secretsam

Blimey, did I step into a minefield with this one or what??? :shock:

e999sam

Stewie Griffin wrote:

There were no smiles when slagging off Alfas, owned mine for 10 years and its never been recalled because it might try and kill me. Unlike your reliable Toyotas.

Alfa just fiat with a different badge.

You probably also believe they found a London bus in the arctic :roll:

bill57

SecretSam wrote:

Blimey, did I step into a minefield with this one or what??? :shock:

I think you actually sowed the minefield, but it was never going to be dull...........!!

heathy_76

thegreatdivide wrote:

Monty Dog wrote:

If you want to destroy the aesthetic of a beautiful bike by fitting the ugliest kit is existence don't let us stop you!

+ 1

+1

IMO the current range of Shimano chainsets are one of the ugliest bike components I have ever seen.

Stewie Griffin

e999sam wrote:

Stewie Griffin wrote:

There were no smiles when slagging off Alfas, owned mine for 10 years and its never been recalled because it might try and kill me. Unlike your reliable Toyotas.

Alfa just fiat with a different badge.

You probably also believe they found a London bus in the artic :roll:

So is Ferrari then I take it? Please tell us what dullards car you drive.

Why would I believe that they found a London Bus in the artic, whatever artic is :?

JD_76

It seems even the Italian bike builders have seen sense with Shimano.

Had an Alfa GT for two years and spent 3k on it in repairs, never again.
Bought some Giordana bib shorts in XL - im only 5' 10" and they were still pulling on the shoulders, sold on ebay - never again.
Campagnolo looks great when new, but the carbon crank arms look tatty with wear in no time, poor finish - never again.

If I never owned anything again that was made in Italy that would suit me, totaly over rated.

MountainMonster

Who cares what company makes the parts that are on it, as long as the parts are up to the standard of the frames.

Good parts are good parts, regardless of the area they came from.

hammerite

e999sam wrote:

You probably also believe they found a London bus in the artic :roll:

e999sam

Stewie Griffin wrote:

e999sam wrote:

Stewie Griffin wrote:

There were no smiles when slagging off Alfas, owned mine for 10 years and its never been recalled because it might try and kill me. Unlike your reliable Toyotas.

Alfa just fiat with a different badge.

You probably also believe they found a London bus in the artic :roll:

So is Ferrari then I take it? Please tell us what dullards car you drive.

Why would I believe that they found a London Bus in the artic, whatever artic is :?

Ferrari are clearly a completely different car were as alfa’s are made on the the same production lines as fiats.
The reference to a London bus was from a story in the Sport in the eighties you clearly believe everything you read in the press.
I’ve used most componet manufactures over the last 35 years and Campag for me are certainly the best. I might compare Campag to Ferrari but never alfa.

Stewie Griffin

e999sam wrote:

Stewie Griffin wrote:

e999sam wrote:

Stewie Griffin wrote:

There were no smiles when slagging off Alfas, owned mine for 10 years and its never been recalled because it might try and kill me. Unlike your reliable Toyotas.

Alfa just fiat with a different badge.

You probably also believe they found a London bus in the artic :roll:

So is Ferrari then I take it? Please tell us what dullards car you drive.

Why would I believe that they found a London Bus in the artic, whatever artic is :?

Ferrari are clearly a completely different car were as alfa’s are made on the the same production lines as fiats.
The reference to a London bus was from a story in the Sport in the eighties you clearly believe everything you read in the press.
I’ve used most componet manufactures over the last 35 years and Campag for me are certainly the best. I might compare Campag to Ferrari but never alfa.

Still dont know what car you drive. Just over 10 years ago I visited a friend I hadnt seen in a while. As soon as I parked outside his House I fell in love with the car on his drive. By the time I was leaving to go home we had agreed a price for me to buy his car and 10 years later I still own it. Its still nice to look at and still nice to drive. I dont care who built it and where.

Please tell us the lovely story attached to you buying your fanny magnet of a Toyota Yaris. Oh and which Ferraris you have driven to be able to make a valid comparison to Campgnolo.

alfablue

e999sam wrote:

[Ferrari are clearly a completely different car were as alfa’s are made on the the same production lines as fiats.

ahem . . . my Alfa was made on the same Pininfarina production line as many Ferrari models. There are two current Alfa models made by Pinin.

Anyway, don't diss Fiat!

Anonymous

I've used/owned all the 3 groupsets. SRAM Is my favourite. I love Italian style and design. I'd like to like campag but hate the crappy thumb lever as I only have small hands and I have to really move my wrist to change on the drops. I liked the clunky shifting though although no where near as quick as sram and it looks the best.

I also have an alfa. I love it to bits, the best car I've owned for fun and it's comfortable and has loads of good gadgets too. Not in the least bit mithered that it's made on the same production line as fiat.

I wasn't bothered my Cervelo was made in china or my colnago is made in Taiwan.
Not a clue where my SRAM stuff was made but I like it.