Campag Shifting/braking

andy777
andy777 Posts: 45
edited August 2011 in Road buying advice
Hi,

Just looking at new bikes and am tempted by the wilier Gran Turismo. From what I remember about campag (I had a go on a bike with campy) you can't brake and downshift (up the cassette) at the same time. I currently use shimano and when slowing I like to shift while i'm braking. This kind of puts me off. Is this something to worry about or will i just adapt to it?

Thanks

Andy

Comments

  • neilo23
    neilo23 Posts: 783
    If that is with Campagnolo Chorus it is the same bike that I have. I am very impressed with the bike. It's a stunner and is a great ride, too. I wouldn't let the shifting query put you off. It's something I am sure you'll get used to. Not being able to this is a minor detail which shouldn't put you off getting this great bike. Chorus looks fantastic and works extremely well.

    P.S. I don't work for Wilier :-)
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    neilo23 wrote:
    If that is with Campagnolo Chorus it is the same bike that I have. I am very impressed with the bike. It's a stunner and is a great ride, too. I wouldn't let the shifting query put you off. It's something I am sure you'll get used to. Not being able to this is a minor detail which shouldn't put you off getting this great bike. Chorus looks fantastic and works extremely well.

    P.S. I don't work for Wilier :-)

    What he said. Plus you can multi shift which comes in handy when you turn a corner and are confronted by a suprise hill.

    P.S. I don't work for Wilier either :D
  • derbygrimpeur
    derbygrimpeur Posts: 822
    can't think I've ever tried or wanted to brake and shift at the same time. :? (maybe because I've never had a groupset that had that functionality?)

    I just brake & shift alternately. Never had any problems. Can change up the cassette 3 sprockets at a time, 5 sprockets down. That wins for me.
  • neilo23
    neilo23 Posts: 783
    Plus what could be better than owning a beautiful Italian bike with a beautiful Italian groupset?
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    neilo23 wrote:
    Plus what could be better than owning a beautiful Italian bike with a beautiful Italian groupset?

    Indeed. It makes you dead sexy. You'll be fighting the ladies off.
  • neilo23
    neilo23 Posts: 783
    thegreatdivide wrote:
    neilo23 wrote:
    Plus what could be better than owning a beautiful Italian bike with a beautiful Italian groupset?

    Indeed. It makes you dead sexy. You'll be fighting the ladies off.

    But only Italian ladies.
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    neilo23 wrote:
    thegreatdivide wrote:
    neilo23 wrote:
    Plus what could be better than owning a beautiful Italian bike with a beautiful Italian groupset?

    Indeed. It makes you dead sexy. You'll be fighting the ladies off.

    But only Italian ladies.

    Which is no bad thing.
  • neilo23
    neilo23 Posts: 783
    thegreatdivide wrote:
    neilo23 wrote:
    thegreatdivide wrote:
    neilo23 wrote:
    Plus what could be better than owning a beautiful Italian bike with a beautiful Italian groupset?

    Indeed. It makes you dead sexy. You'll be fighting the ladies off.

    But only Italian ladies.

    Which is no bad thing.

    I did mean it is a plus ;-)

    Regardless of your womanly requirements I have nothing but praise for this bike. The braking/changing gear thing is so unimportant that you shouldn't be put off switching to Campag (don't work for them either).
  • andy777
    andy777 Posts: 45
    Thanks for the advice guys. I just realised the braking shifting thing is only a problem for uk riders. All other countries have the front brake on the left so when descending into hairpins you can still brake with the left while shifting with the right.
    Hmm

    Andy
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    andy777 wrote:
    Thanks for the advice guys. I just realised the braking shifting thing is only a problem for uk riders. All other countries have the front brake on the left so when descending into hairpins you can still brake with the left while shifting with the right.
    Hmm

    Andy

    Actually, in this kind of situation, I'm inclined to shift at the front anyway (left hand in UK configuration). The speed differential before and after hard downhill braking suits the major change between chainrings, in my experience.

    Otherwise, I very much like the ability to shift most of the way across the block at the back. It may be a hangover from the days of downtube shifters, but I don't like the idea of having to go one at a time. I haven't used Shimano for years, or SRAM ever, though: I'm sure I'd get used to them fine if events went that way. Changing gear isn't actually all that important to fun bike rides, despite the above.
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    andy777 wrote:
    All other countries have the front brake on the left so when descending into hairpins you can still brake with the left while shifting with the right.
    Hmm

    Depends on what you ask for when you get the bike built. We don't all use right front here!!
    Faster than a tent.......

Categories