Campagnolo Mirage

Price Paid:  $370.00 at ProBikeKit.com

Favorite Ride:
around town

Bike Setup:
2007 Fuji Newest 3.0 (soon to be a Salsa Podio!)
Look HSC Carbon Fork (older model, i.e. pre-2006)
Ritchey WCS Protocol Wheels
Hutchinson Fusion2 Tubeless tires w/Stan's NoTubes
Complete Campagnolo Mirage groupset
Specialized Avatar saddle

Summary:
This is the first time I have ever owned anything with Campagnolo on it, and I must say, I am supremely satisfied with my purchase. I have a Fuji Newest 3.0, originally came with Shimano Sora and some other really low tech stuff, no-name brakes (probably unbranded Tektros), Alex R500 wheels, triple crank, 8 speed cassette, and poor shifting.

The bike was set up very well when I purchased it, and I ensured that I had good maintenance for repairs and adjustments, but the original Sora shifting just plain sucked, especially for the front derailleur. Sometimes the shifter would jam and I wouldn't be able to shift! Thankfully, all that changed when I got my 2008 Mirage gruppo. Shifting changed by a magnitude of a mol in comparison to the previous group. Not only was it quicker, it was quieter, smoother and much more precise. Going down the cassette to the 12, is fast and reassuring; likewise for going up the cassette, taking only 3 pushes of the upshift lever to go back to the 27. Front derailleur shifting is also fantastic. I can't quite shift to the big chainring under lots of power, but during normal cruising, upshifts are sooooooo smooth. I can't remember anything this good, and I've ridden Force, Sora, Tiagra, and 105, for a reference. Downshifts are equally fantastic, when under normal, moderate power, the chain gently drops to the little ring, and under certain conditions, there is almost no perceptible change until I go to my next pedal stroke. Brakes are great too. The only thing better(in terms of power) on the road that I have ridden was SRAM Force, but that is about $450 more for the group. The thing I like about the Mirage brakes is that they are lighter than the Veloce skeletons of the same year (2008), have good power, and excellent modulation. Also, I think, are dual pivots in the rear, unlike the single pivot which is everything above Mirage using Skeleton brakes. So you get almost the same braking power at each wheel. Finally, the crankset; with the Ultra-Torque axle Hirth joint, I was amazed at how powerful each pedal stroke had become. Each stroke sends you forward, and never feels weak. Just keep an eye out on it for any kind of flex near the bearings. I would highly recommend tightening the 10mm bolt in the axle up to spec at least once a year. Mine got slightly loose (like less than a mm of play after about a year), but not enough to be dangerous.

My only complaint are the hoods. The knub at the top of the shifter doesn't really feel comfortable for many positions while on the hoods, nor does the rest of the material, but that is why a road bar has plenty of positions. Get some good bar tape, and all should be well.

Overall, a fantastic group for the price. Yes, it doesn't have carbon, it isn't as light as Ultegra or Chorus 11, but it isn't meant to be. This groupset has great reliability, functions fantastic, and offers riders new to the road world a taste of what a world class gruppo manufacturer is all about.

Strengths:
Smooth, quick, reliable, and precise shifting
excellent brake modulation
Ultra-Torque
cheap to buy
very durable
when properly tuned and set-up, will function with a perfect 10

Weaknesses:
hoods are somewhat uncomfortable
requires a competent mechanic to set-up right
give the group a check up once in a while to make sure it is working right

Similar Products Used:
Shimano Sora, Tiagra and 105
SRAM Force

Price Paid:  $799.00 at Bicycle Village

Favorite Ride:
Hotter N Hell 100 in Wichita Falls, TX

Bike Setup:
Fully carbon Fuji Team, Forte carbon seat post, sella italia (yellow/black)saddle, Vittoria Rubino Pro (kevlar)(yellow/black), Shimano Ultegra drivetrain--20 speed (groupo)--shifters, breaks, f/r derailleurs, cassette, chain

Summary:
My Mirage group came with the purchase of my Bianchi Eros. Instead of a mixture of components I got lucky and received all campy Mirage componets--breaks, shifters, f/r derailleurs and crank. Bottom line, GREAT product for the price. Folks at Bicycle Village said that the Mirage groupo ranks just behind Shimano's 105s. I would go further and say that they're on par with the 105s. The good thing about the Mirage unlike the Shimano's Soras or Tiagras is that the Mirage group benefits from Campy's Record technology. Because of the price you're giving up weight and high-end materiel. Mirage is a quality product. At first I had problems dropping my chain, but after some tweaking no chain drops. Many of the drops were operator's errors. Didn't know how to change gears in a mountainous region. Now that I'm educated and experienced 7 centuries this summer, no problems whatsoever. If you're budget minded, go with Mirage, it's a great value for the mone.

Strengths:
campy, quality, technology, long lasting, cheap

Weaknesses:
low-end campy,not as crisp as higher end components

Similar Products Used:
Ultegra, 105s, cane creek scr 3

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Jax

Favorite Ride:
anywhere along the coast

Bike Setup:
Principia Rex E SL Pro - Ninja bike with all black build, Mirage group with Record skeleton brakes, Bontrager Carbon post and VR bar, Campagnolo Khamsin wheels.

Summary:
This is a pretty early review, I have only used the new 2007 Mirage group on two rides. So far I'm impressed. My other bike has 2006 Record and I have had two bikes with Chorus before that. I was not sure what to expect but I had scored a very cool frame for a second bike and wanted to build it reliable but cheap for commuting lunch rides etc. The price and black color drew me to Mirage. It seems to work well and though I'm sure it's heavier than my Record, I was still able to build the 61cm bike up at 18 pounds and on a very reasonable budget.

Strengths:
Stealthy black, cheap, Campy, works fine,

Weaknesses:
seems a bit noisy when compared to Chorus or Record. Shifting not quite as crisp. A bit heavy. Note - My frame of reference are Campys top two groups.

Similar Products Used:
Campy Record and Chorus
Shimano Ultegra and Dura Ace

Price Paid:  $450.00 at Craigslist

Favorite Ride:
Ruby Expert

Bike Setup:
Bianchi Campione 2002 / Campy Mirage.

Summary:
Picked up a great 2002 Bianchi Campione, a second bike for commuting. I've been shopping for another bike and the Campione with the Campy Mirage by far is superior to the other bikes/ components I tested including a 2003 Specialized Sirrus and 2007 Jamis Coda.

The shifting is smooth and effecient. I've been riding a Ruby Expert with Ultegra which is fantastic. So I was pleasantly surprised with the Mirage performance after hearing and reading about the "Campy" components.

Strengths:
Smooth shift. Great design and I love the thumb shifter and the break release in the hood. Very sophisticated !

Similar Products Used:
Shimano Ultegra

Price Paid:  $0.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
dunno

Bike Setup:
Orbea Volata, stock at this point

Summary:
This is just a preliminary review...I got this groupo on my new Orbea Volata and have put a couple hundred miles on it so far. I have done a lot of mountain biking (Sram X.0 and Shimano XT) but am getting more into road for the training benefits. My expectations were not especially high for this product but to be honest, it has performed extremely well. I'm sure there are lighter products out there but the Mirage set has proven to perform very well and so far no reliability issues. Will post a follow up later after I get more miles on them.

Strengths:
Good performance, crisp shifting, like the option to go up or down a bunch of gears at a time.

Weaknesses:
Black color makes them look a little cheap. Not as light as more expensive groupos.

Similar Products Used:
Shimano 105