Obsessive Campagnolo Build

teisetrotter
teisetrotter Posts: 342
in Your road bikes
I have been collecting and building this for a while. I have sourced:
1. Frame from a Campy promotion guy. It's a Sarto Veneto SL
2. Record 12 speed groupset - oh it is good
3. Bora Ultra training wheels (clincher) from Movistar (unused)

The other bits came from a crash victim. But 3t mega light handlebars, Ultralite stem, sella Italia carbon superflow, seat post .... not sure, Blackburn bottle cages.

So I think this might be the first 12 speed Campy bike I have seen on this bike forum. Anyway, I tried it out on a test bike ..... and all things were good. As a mechanical groupset I am not sure how you could make anything better. 3 down on the button, 5 up on the brake lever. You can choose the speed of change between instant or as you click. The front and rear mech change at the same speed ...... it is sublime! I have Di2 on my other bike and I thought it defined groupsets as the best...... not so. It is pretty agricultural compared to this. Not that the Di2 is going, but boy you can understand why Campagnolo have virtually dropped electric, it's pointless if you get the flexibility into the manual changes they have, Di2 is less flexible and a hell of lot slower.

Anyway, no one will believe me as apparently Ultegra is great. But at least I am ver very happy


Comments

  • joe2019
    joe2019 Posts: 1,338
    Very nice indeed, well done.

    Coincidently, I've just watched an episode of Only Fools & Horses, and this was the first post I clicked on. :)
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,104
    Good to read, so often people who have never used Campag write it off as a heart over head purchase.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • shortfall
    shortfall Posts: 3,288
    Love your description of the groupset. Can you post a better picture(s) as the current one isn't showcasing the bike very well.
  • bondurant
    bondurant Posts: 858
    Amazing looking bike, it would be great to see more and better pics!
  • teisetrotter
    teisetrotter Posts: 342
    OK. I'll try and upgrade the iphone pic's.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,337
    Good luck! This site has the ability to ruin perfectly good photos.
    A web link would probably prove better.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    edited July 2020
    Nice set up.

    There have been a few Campagnolo 12-speed bikes on here already though (I think markyone has two now!).

    Where have the company dropped electric? They’ve just binned Chorus and Athena and concentrated on R and SR rim brake and SR disc which was a wise move. Have they binned Record EPS too?
  • teisetrotter
    teisetrotter Posts: 342
    Chorus is still there. But the only cheaper groupset they have is now Centaur 11 speed. Although not sure why they need three top-end groupsets. Why not have Centaur and Record. The use SR to be the top end experimental stuff.

    EPS except SR is gone. I'd imagine in reality for demand and cost. However, practically EPS doesn't improve the groupset. You have the multi instant shifts, so you can jump 3 gears instantly. With Shimano Di2 makes sense as you move from one gear with a very long sweep o a button that does as you wish.

    I still stand by my original review. This 12-speed mechanical groupset offers better flexibility, smoother gear transition and demonstrably faster gear changes. Di2 is really good, but that Campy groupset is sublime.

  • mpatts
    mpatts Posts: 1,010
    I love that. always wanted a sarto.

    How did you source the training wheels? I'm after a set of bora clinchers (I have tubs)
    Insert bike here:
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    Just a heads up - I've found out that there's a reason why Campagnolo 12-speed EPS is only SR. It's being phased out for the arrival of their new electronic groupset.

    EPS beats mechanical hands down btw - everything you can do on mechanical you can do on EPS.
  • yellowv2
    yellowv2 Posts: 282
    In your opinion of course. I’m sure you meant to say that!
  • thecycleclinic
    thecycleclinic Posts: 395
    I have one of these frames too. They are very nice. Lucky find.

    12 speed is chorus, record and super record with centaur remaining as 11 speed. Eps v4 is offered in super record and record 12 speed. All the goodness of 12 speed but electric. Keep up folks.

    We keep on telling people campag 12 speed is the dogs danglies. The op is right it is sublime but 12 speed eps is not being dropped.
    www.thecycleclinic.co.uk
  • brundonbianchi
    brundonbianchi Posts: 689
    thecycleclinic said:

    I have one of these frames too. They are very nice. Lucky find.

    12 speed is chorus, record and super record with centaur remaining as 11 speed. Eps v4 is offered in super record and record 12 speed. All the goodness of 12 speed but electric. Keep up folks.

    We keep on telling people campag 12 speed is the dogs danglies. The op is right it is sublime but 12 speed eps is not being dropped.

    There’s a downloadable app ( MyCampy ). You can drive the Super Record EPS with it, from your phone. That is a great thing. I generally run a synchro shift programme which means all the shifting ( front and rear ) happens on the right hand controls, and I can set the ratio at which I want the rings to shift. It also allows you to fine tune the shift speed, which is a great idea. A lot of the time, I find my normal routes consist of flat bits, and lumpy bits, and it’s nice to be able to switch shift modes, on the fly, using my phone. When you add in the absolutely loveliness of the 12 speed choice, it makes the ride a whole lot nicer. The Campag gearing makes any of the Shimano sets I’ve used feel pretty agricultural in comparison.

  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    yellowv2 said:

    In your opinion of course. I’m sure you meant to say that!

    No, I didn't mean to say that.

  • yellowv2
    yellowv2 Posts: 282
    Ok, so it’s just an opinion then.
  • teisetrotter
    teisetrotter Posts: 342
    The idea that electric can be faster than manual Campy is strange. I have a very fine Di2 groupset on another bike. Firstly it isn't fast .... but it is steady and very good but definitely way behind the times. There can be zero chance that anything electric could be faster than the downshift on manual Campy ..... this is the point of why it is sooo good. Punch that thumb button on the drops as you accelerate and wham and booooom it's there. This new 12 speed Campy is the greatest groupset I have ever ridden, it is ridiculously fast and flexible. If you want electric buy SRAM, if you want the best groupset then buy Chorus ........ that's my 33 years of fussy racing experience. It's fast, flexible and just amazing you can be in big ring/small ring up front and drop the rear or change up with zero cadence changes. Campy have been bulk purchased out of the market, but Chorus is, in my opinion, the defining groupset of the industry. I'll get the photos sorted (I have record by the way ..... Chorus will be on the other bike to follow)

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