Bike Style Poll

daviesee

Scenario:- I have my Colnago Master stripped down and cleaned getting ready for the spring.
This would be the best time to do any upgrades, especially if the sales are any good :P

The problem -

Do I stick with retro style alloy and go for Athena and/or alloy wheels to match the forks etc?

or

Do I do the original dream plan and go for Record (possibly electronic) to get the best available but is only available in black?

Hmmm. Nice problem to have
Note that I do not race so even my current set up is good enough but you can't blame me for dreaming. I may not upgrade at all.

APIII

I'm waiting for a 953 frame, so am going through a similar thought process. I think polished seatpost, stem and bars are the way to go, but chorus, or in your case record, groupset.

thegreatdivide

It is indeed a good problem! :-)

I have Athena on one of my bikes and my dream (you gotta love the bike dreams) is to order a Master in Saronni red and transfer the groupset over. If my ruddy insurance gets sorted soon I'll place an order for a frame.

I've seen pics of Master builds with Chorus/Record/SR and they just don't do it for me. Athena has the weight penalty and you can't multi shift both ways with 2011 model, but it shifts just as well as SR (got SR on my best bike) and it looks so damn classy!

Shiny Bikes is your place to go for the cheapest Campag groupsets, but keep an eye on Comtat for sales too.

daviesee

Divided then?

It is a nice problem to have, but a problem which will come with wear & tear none the less.

Thanks for the shopping tips! :P

APIII

Just to add, I'd agree that functionally Athena is almost as good as super record, but just not quite as pretty!
If you are shopping then PBK has the ti version of the super record chainset for £383!! http://www.probikekit.com/uk/components ... speed.html Just add the code 'BIG25'
I posted this elsewhere - I don't work for them, honest. Just a cracking deal imo.

thegreatdivide

SR is stunning, no doubt about it. It's carbon bling heaven! But IMO a classic frame like the Master needs a classic looking groupset.

What wheels are you thinking of getting daviesee?

rajMAN

To be retro it would have to be Athena! but imagine how wicked it would look with EPS What a dilemma.

daviesee

thegreatdivide wrote:

SR is stunning, no doubt about it. It's carbon bling heaven! But IMO a classic frame like the Master needs a classic looking groupset.

What wheels are you thinking of getting daviesee?

I will get in touch with Big Al at Wheelcraft sooner or later for some handbuilts.
Starting point - Record hubs, DT spokes & Mavic rims but I already have a set like that and may look for something "special".

thegreatdivide

Nice!

Pross

I'd get a load of good quality second-hand retro Record stuff in alloy Personally I prefer alloy.

daviesee

Pross wrote:

I'd get a load of good quality second-hand retro Record stuff in alloy Personally I prefer alloy.

That was my first instinct but getting replacement parts when something goes wrong may prove tricky, or time consuming at best. And then there is the time spent finding out what parts are compatible with others......
Unless someone has a link to a good (continuous) stock of old parts :?:

Edit:- And then there is the debate that new Athena is as good if not better than old Record?

Wheelspinner

APIII wrote:

Just to add, I'd agree that functionally Athena is almost as good as super record, but just not quite as pretty!
If you are shopping then PBK has the ti version of the super record chainset for £383!! http://www.probikekit.com/uk/components ... speed.html Just add the code 'BIG25'
I posted this elsewhere - I don't work for them, honest. Just a cracking deal imo.

Thanks for the tip-off on the Super Record chain set. Needed a replacement for one damaged in a crash, and that's the best price I've seen anywhere by miles.

Cheers!

napoleond

Tbh I think the master x light carries off modern campagnolo very well.

Wheelspinner

NapoleonD wrote:

Tbh I think the master x light carries off modern campagnolo very well.

This.
My LBS had one in the PR99 colours with a full Record 11 speed groupset and Hyperon Ultra tubs. Drool!!!

Gazzetta67

daviesee wrote:

Pross wrote:

I'd get a load of good quality second-hand retro Record stuff in alloy Personally I prefer alloy.

That was my first instinct but getting replacement parts when something goes wrong may prove tricky, or time consuming at best. And then there is the time spent finding out what parts are compatible with others......
Unless someone has a link to a good (continuous) stock of old parts :?:

Edit:- And then there is the debate that new Athena is as good if not better than old Record?

I have the Carbon Saronni Extreme power and was going to swap the chorus carbon chainset for the alloy athena - I reckon the alloy chainset looks better if you look at old pics of the del tongo bikes somehow a dark looking chainset would ruin it ....Have 2006 Alloy Campag Record 36 hubs and would NOT sell them at any price last of the retro stuff.

markos1963

Why not buy the Record GS and an alloy Athena chainset? I reckon you won't notice the carbon mechs and brakes so much as the chainset, fit the Athena chainset and if you like it stick with it. Then you can sell the Record chainset and not be out of pocket at all

...or do as I would, tell the mrs that is what I'm doing and hide the spare kit in the shed just in case I need it later on

rolf_f

daviesee wrote:

Edit:- And then there is the debate that new Athena is as good if not better than old Record?

Not sure that works - the old Athena is surely better than the new Athena due to the new one downgrading to Powertorque?

I wouldn't worry about getting parts - look on Ebay; there is stacks of stuff available for bikes of all ages. You can always stock up on a few spares as and when they turn up and you'll still be quids in over the Record option.

In this case I don't see the point of the Record option. To all practical purposes, the only difference between an Ultratorque Athena and a Record groupset is looks (the weight and function is all but indistinguishable). Therefore the only reason to get Record is because of the label whereas the Athena is both cheaper and sounds like it is visually better suited to this particular bike.

daviesee

Rolf F wrote:

.......To all practical purposes, the only difference between an Ultratorque Athena and a Record groupset is looks (the weight and function is all but indistinguishable). Therefore the only reason to get Record is because of the label whereas the Athena is both cheaper and sounds like it is visually better suited to this particular bike.

I think this is the "nail on head" moment.
Is the label vanity worth losing the appearance vanity, and the money? I am doubting it.
If there was a big difference in performance then that would be another matter.

Thanks for the thoughts and comments.