Campag Veloce snags?

bendylegs

Having done the first couple of rides on my Wilier Izoard XP I am loving it! I have noticed though what I think is a slight snag with the Campagnolo Veloce groupset - when I'm riding with the big chain ring and on the largest cog at the back (never sure what gear to call that!) then the chain doesn't really 'settle' and quite easily falls down to the next largest cog. I know that in this position the chain is stretched diagonally etc, but it's still "a gear" so I was assuming it just needs a tweak. I went in to the bike shop today (who I bought it from) and asked if they could adjust it for me and the guy very politely explained it wasn't really worth using that gear and that I'd be lucky if I got any bike to run well in that gear. I was a bit surprised and explained that my 5 yr old Specialised Allez (that I also bought from them) has always run fine in that gear, as has the Specialised MTB I have from them. But he was adamant that it wasn't worth using that gear and instead suggested I should change to the smaller chain ring and find a similar ratio.

Anyone got any views on this please? I've not had Campag before, so not sure if they are generally a bit less tolerant of being stretched like this, and I know I only have the Veloce g'set, but I did kinda think all the gears would work!

doug5_10

Yep LBS are correct, never use big-big or small-small for any length of time. Its called cross chaining. I can never get my Tiagra to run big-big or small-small smoothly when doing my indexing, leave them alone!

declan1

Never use that gear or small chainring - smallest sprocket. It will quickly wear everything out and serves no purpose whatsoever. Just change gear so the chain is as straight as possible.

Calpol

The chain should run fine big-big however it is not recommended to cross chain like that for long.It is merely a case of adjustment and careful set up. Plenty of videos on YouTube. Generally it is harder to get the front mech set up to accomodate this without chain rub on the derailler. I never had any issues with my Izoard (veloce also) in occasionally running 50-25. If you are finding yourself often in this ratio then you may consider a different cassette. A 13-29 would allow you to stay in the big ring without cross chaining so much.

If you are riding a bike as nice as the Izoard then I think you should learn to service it yourself rather than waste money at the LBS. Trimming gears is not difficult it just takes a bit of practice.

bendylegs

Thanks all for your answers - I will no longer cross chain then - glad I checked to be honest!

nochekmate

Not a Veloce problem as such. Whilst cross-chaining is not recommended I don't agree with the opinion of your LBS as it should still be a viable gear to operate. Tweaking the barrel adjuster on the rear mech should suffice.

Nothing wrong with Veloce - a reliable groupset in my experience.

Velonutter

Yep as Nocheckmate said, it should always be possible.

I regularly ride with a crossed chain and was annoyed when I had a problem on one of my bikes that wouldn't (turned out to be a bent chain ring).

I get at least 2000 miles to my chains as well.

My families bikes are Veloce and they all cross as well.

With a bit of tweaking it should all work fine.

rolf_f

Plus one to the above two! LBS was talking poop.

There is no reason why a bike shouldn't work perfectly well with a crossed chain and it is hardly equivalent to making a pact with the devil to do this occasionally despite what you might here. Admittedly big-big shouldn't really happen but small-small can easily happen in hilly country (eg fast descent into steep climb needing a drop into the small chainring before working up the cassette).

gloomyandy

While generally agreeing that you should be able to use all of the gears... Many setups will struggle with small small due to the chain catching on the large ring. There is probably not much you can do to fix this if it happens, as it is a function of the chain line and that may not be easy to change. SRAM with the latest group sets have made a big thing of adjusting front ring spacing etc. to enable the full range of gears to be used. Certainly on a SRAM Red setup you can cross chain to both extremes without any chain rub.

There is some evidence in:
"Cross-chain gears make little difference." - Dr. Chester Kyle and Frank Berto, "The mechanical efficiency of bicycle derailleur and hub-gear transmissions", Human Power (Technical Journal of the IHPVA), #52 Summer 2001.
that cross chaining is not as big an issue as some may think, but I have no idea how valid any of this is!

t4tomo

Why the heck would you want to run in that gear / regularly cross chain - its not a badge of honour?

Its likey to wear your chain and cassette quicker due to the angle you run the chain at.

Its mechanically inefficient - whatever Doctor chester bruno says. (i pointed this out to my beginner mate the other day when he was struggling up a hill and he found it far easier once he'd dropped to the little ring and corrected on the rear cassette.)

Use the bottom 2/3rd of your cassette with the big ring and the top 2/3rd with your little ring.

bendylegs

Following on from my earlier posts, I have to say I am having heaps of trouble from my Veloce g'set. It has been a very poor decision to switch from Shimano in my case. I no longer x-chain (stopped that some weeks back ), but EVERY time I go for a ride I have at least 2 chain-offs, and it is driving me mad! On a 54 mile ride the other weekend the chain came off 7 times - twice on the front and 5 times from the back! I took the bike to LBS for it's first free service, told them about it and it made no real difference. On a typical 40 mile ride the chain always comes off twice, and gets properly jammed - I'm rapidly losing interest in the bike :roll:

I was out today, 50 miles, chain came off 3 times. The front mech rattles ALL the time (only started doing this after the service at my LBS). It is always when I'm changing up to a bigger cog at the back (forgive my crap explanations), and normally when I am changing up to the biggest - it just goes over the top and mashes between the cassette and the spokes. I simply don't enjoy riding the bike - my Allez (which was half the price) never had these problems. It's a real shame - the bike looks gorgeous, and feels great in many ways - but I am always worrying that every time I hit a big hill and go for my biggest gear then the chain will come off. Has anyone else had problems like this?

It's going back to LBS tomorrow (who I am holding off naming for now), but I'm very disappointed. I come back from every ride with black grease all over me and the bike and could just chuck it in a lane at the moment. Real shame.

declan1

Seriously. Set your limit screws - it's not the bike, it's how you set it up...

Neil_aky

Really sounds like your LBS are letting you down. Forget the cross chaining just get it working with normal gears as advised by others here. The limit screws need setting - learn how to do this, it is simple and loads of videos on you tube explaining how to do it. If you are still unsure find another LBS - even a Halfords would do this job OK or find a local cyclist who can help.

themekon

I think it is one of the problems with compact chainsets,you are just tempted to stay in the big ring.

rolf_f

themekon wrote:

I think it is one of the problems with compact chainsets,you are just tempted to stay in the big ring.

Errrr, no it isn't. It is one of the problems of a poorly set up chainset. Compactness has nothing to do with it.

If Bendylegs can't work out how to do it himself then Bendylegs needs a better LBS.

bendylegs

Off to LBS now - sounds like a trip to You Tube for me as well - thanks for the tips all, much appreciated.

bendylegs

Just dropped bike. To be fair, LBS were very apologetic, said it should not be happening etc and took it in to fix. While I was there he pointed out to me that the rear mech is bent inwards towards the back wheel and that is almost certainly the cause of all the problems (well, certainly the chain offs at the back anyway). Will see how it rides when it comes back

Paulj700

I have Veloce on my 2 year old bike and I've never had anything less than faultless shifting.

This is almost certainly due to the fact that I learnt how to maintain it and set up my gears myself.

Sure if your LBS are doing the work for free let them get on with it. But for the future I suggest learning this stuff yourself. I bought a book called "Zinn and the art of Bicycle maintenance".

There are few things more theraputic than fettling with the bike out in the sunshine of the back garden with a cold beer or two.

bendylegs

Thanks for the tip - ordering that book now 8)

meursault

Paulj700 wrote:

I have Veloce on my 2 year old bike and I've never had anything less than faultless shifting.

This is almost certainly due to the fact that I learnt how to maintain it and set up my gears myself.

Sure if your LBS are doing the work for free let them get on with it. But for the future I suggest learning this stuff yourself. I bought a book called "Zinn and the art of Bicycle maintenance".

There are few things more theraputic than fettling with the bike out in the sunshine of the back garden with a cold beer or two.

Spot on!

Trued (if that is a word) my wheel yesterday, after reading how to do it in ZABM. Sun, Beer, Bike maintenance, it doesn't get any better.