Campagnolo Centaur-10 Triple

Price Paid:  $70.00 at eBay

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere less than 8%

Bike Setup:
Bike Setup:
Frameset: Specialized Roubaix Elite (2006) 56cm
Brifters: Campagnolo Centaur (2006?)
Front Derail: Campagnolo Record Titanium (2006?)
Rear Derail: Reviewed here - Long cage
Crankset: Campagnolo Chorus CT (2006)
Cassettes : IRD 12-28(mod by me from 11-28)
Brakes: Mavic SSC
Wheels: Neuvation R28SL3 (ceramic bearings)
Pedals: Speedplay X (steel)

Summary:
I replaced the pulleys with VCRC Ceramic pulleys and am still in the adjustment phase, the pulleys are a lot thinner than the Campys and more prone to pulling off at the bottom, which is NOT A CAMPAGNOLO PROBLEM. I also recently went from a triple to Compact double.

I got tired of the premium prices of the higher lines, since like a lot of riders I am not riding on a indoor track nor do I have a support team following me in a car. I have basically gone with New/Old Stock in the past, since the Campy stuff is rebuildable. So this is probably ca 2005 Centaur, not a bit of carbon anywhere on it, all gunmetal alloy.

I find the mechanism as smooth and reliable as any Campy stuff I have owned, and this is the "lowest" group I have ever used in a drivetrain for years. This just seems like the Chorus stuff I could not afford a few years ago.

Strengths:
Main strength is strength, alloy construction is fairly bullet-proof.

Weaknesses:
If you are all right with anything below Chorus, weight-wise, it takes a lot of limiter adjustments on the long cage during the cable stretch period on the Compact double. That is the nature of the beast, however. But I seem to be tweakling it almost every day.

Similar Products Used:
Record, Ultegra

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Norco Avanti SL set up for touring--wide-ratio gears, heavy-duty wheels and tires.

Summary:
OK, I didn't buy this exact derailleur, but a very similar one--a Veloce long cage rear. It was specced as a nine speed--I have an eight so I didn't think there would be a problem, but it turns out that the low adjustment screw could not be screwed in far enough! This is lame--all the other mechs I've used have no problem adapting to any number of speeds, including none--the derailleur is basicly fixed in place. For something this price, I expect better engineering--and there is no difference in the design of the adjusting screws on the model shown...

Strengths:
Looks pretty.

Weaknesses:
Low gear adjustment not sufficient

Similar Products Used:
Every type of mech imaginable except Campagnolo--after this experience I don't think I will try another...