Athena or Ultegra

Snpiperpilot · Feb 20, 2011

kbwh said:
For 2011 only SR, Record and Chorus have Ultrashift, where you can upshift as many as 5 cogs with one throw of the thumb shifter. Athena, Centaur and Veloce (the two latter are 10 speed) have Powershift, which only allows single cog upshifts at the time, just like any offering from Shimano or SRAM.

2010 Athena had Ultrashift.

Weird that they would actually remove a feature. I'll have to see which version is on the bike when I go see it tomorrow and decide.

Mel Erickson · Feb 20, 2011

Snpiperpilot said:
So, you have the special never stretch shifter cables? ;-)

I have no idea is Athena or any campy is more adjustment prone than others but all need work from time to time or there would be no barrel adjusters. No?

Cables don't stretch, housing and ferrules seat. Once they're fully seated there should be no need for adjustments based on changes in cable length. Other things can happen that require adjustments. Of course, as brake pads wear they need adjustment.

martinrjensen · Feb 20, 2011

I've had both Learn(did the majority of my riding on Shimano) and am running Campy on three of my bikes now. I think in the end, Campy levers design (shifting) makes more sense. I have the older levers that will shift about 5 gears at once though. I really like that function, plus shifting is more natural for me.

SystemShock · Feb 20, 2011

Snpiperpilot said:
Weird that they would actually remove a feature.

I think Campy really really really wants ppl to buy Chorus or above.

Hopefully not because they're hurtin'.

.

danl1 · Feb 20, 2011

JoelS said:
That review is BS. I've got 11sp Chorus on 2 bikes and never have to fiddle with it. If it's set up right from the get go, it'll be fine.

Well, your sample size and their's are both too small to form a solid answer. It could be that you got lucky, it could be that they had a bad build.

Your's is believable in that Campy does good work. Theirs is believeable in that 11s is asking the most of tolerances, and small differences - ones that might be unavoidable in certain builds - could make big differences.

So, I'd not be too quick to call their review BS unless you are willing to have yours painted with the same brush. Plus, they have the advantage of broader second-hand information than you do, so maybe....

terbennett · Feb 22, 2011

Snpiperpilot said:
What is the difference. I haven't seen anything that makes a distinction.

In looking at those two, Athana seems better. Is that statement based on some analysis or just your view? I understand that the comparison is not an easy thing to do.

No. That's based on what a Campy rep told me last year. Chorus is supposed to be on par with Ultegra and Record, Dura Ace. Remember, SRAM Rival is on par with 105 but many will say that it is better suited to compete with Ultegra due to it being lighter than 105. Weight seems to dictate a lot to many cyclists. Shimano usually does have the heavier groups by comparison, but that doesn't mean that they are any less capable... Usually it's quite the contrary. Even with the added weight, they tend to hold their own as equals (or sometimes better), when it comes to overall performance of their product.

terbennett · Feb 22, 2011

Snpiperpilot said:
They're certainly not cheaper in the US where I am....

I agree. I haven't seen them for that little anywhere here in California.

terbennett · Feb 22, 2011

danl1 said:
Well, your sample size and their's are both too small to form a solid answer. It could be that you got lucky, it could be that they had a bad build.

Your's is believable in that Campy does good work. Theirs is believeable in that 11s is asking the most of tolerances, and small differences - ones that might be unavoidable in certain builds - could make big differences.

So, I'd not be too quick to call their review BS unless you are willing to have yours painted with the same brush. Plus, they have the advantage of broader second-hand information than you do, so maybe....

My brother in law only uses Campy now because of there shifter design. He has three bikes with Record groups. His take is that Campy is finnicky compared to Shimano. However, when his groups are fine tuned, there's nothing out there that can come close. Go figure.

terbennett · Feb 22, 2011

The perfect group in my opinion would have:
Campy design
Shimano reliability
SRAM weights

Snpiperpilot · Feb 23, 2011

terbennett said:
The perfect group in my opinion would have:
Campy design
Shimano reliability
SRAM weights

There an old joke in there someplace but I think you have it right. Also, there is a price component to this equation that's hard to quantify direction. A price/perceived value equation where everyone's variables are different.

Price aside, I think your analysis is spot on.

scotty_b · Feb 23, 2011

As shallow as it sounds, I would go for the one you like the look of most. Don't worry about ergonomics - you would quickly get used to all of them to the point where it is unlikely that you'd want to switch. At that pricepoint they will all be high quality and will all work superbly. The only other factor would be the extra gear that athena gives you - might come in handy when you venture into the hills.

Snpiperpilot · Feb 23, 2011

scotty_b said:
As shallow as it sounds, I would go for the one you like the look of most. Don't worry about ergonomics - you would quickly get used to all of them to the point where it is unlikely that you'd want to switch. At that pricepoint they will all be high quality and will all work superbly. The only other factor would be the extra gear that athena gives you - might come in handy when you venture into the hills.

Aside from tighter spacing making the "right" gear a bit easier, does 11 work any better?

FWIW, I ended up with the Athena and a compact front and 12-27 rear cluster to give me a bit more climbing than my current closer ratio 105.

Now, if the fraking weather would just allow me to get outside....:-(

kbwh · Feb 23, 2011

Snpiperpilot said:
There an old joke in there someplace but I think you have it right. Also, there is a price component to this equation that's hard to quantify direction. A price/perceived value equation where everyone's variables are different.

Price aside, I think your analysis is spot on.

The joke being that Shimano is the more reliable...

cs1 · Feb 23, 2011

terbennett said:
Well, Athena is on par with 105- if it matters. That probably explains why it is cheaper.

Athena is on par with Chorus which is far better than either 105 or Ultegra.

malanb · Feb 23, 2011

Athena is almost better than ultegra IMO. chorus is indeed better than ultegra

cs1 · Feb 23, 2011

malanb said:
Athena is almost better than ultegra IMO. chorus is indeed better than ultegra

I second Chorus. It's a great group.

SystemShock · Feb 23, 2011

terbennett said:
No. That's based on what a Campy rep told me last year. Chorus is supposed to be on par with Ultegra and Record, Dura Ace. Remember, SRAM Rival is on par with 105 but many will say that it is better suited to compete with Ultegra due to it being lighter than 105. Weight seems to dictate a lot to many cyclists.

Thing is, if you're going by weight, then Athena is on par with Ultegra, and Chorus is pretty close to Dura Ace.

I've never heard anyone else say that Athena was intended to compete with or be on par with 105. I just don't think many ppl see it that way.

Perhaps Centaur would be a better comparison to 105. They're both 10-spd, and with the alloy crankset option, Centaur is about the same weight as 105.
.

terbennett · Mar 4, 2011

SystemShock said:
Thing is, if you're going by weight, then Athena is on par with Ultegra, and Chorus is pretty close to Dura Ace.

I've never heard anyone else say that Athena was intended to compete with or be on par with 105. I just don't think many ppl see it that way.

Perhaps Centaur would be a better comparison to 105. They're both 10-spd, and with the alloy crankset option, Centaur is about the same weight as 105.
.

I stand corrected. You are right. Centaur is on par with 105.

terbennett · Mar 4, 2011

cs1 said:
Athena is on par with Chorus which is far better than either 105 or Ultegra.

Chorus is on par with Record. They use the same shifters with different labels.

pmf · Mar 4, 2011

Snpiperpilot said:
There an old joke in there someplace but I think you have it right. Also, there is a price component to this equation that's hard to quantify direction. A price/perceived value equation where everyone's variables are different.

Price aside, I think your analysis is spot on.

The perfect war:
British officers
German soldiers
American equipment
The Italians for enemies

I recently built up a bike (a resprayed Eddy Merckx Corsa 01) and for the first time in my life, went with Campy. This is after decades of Dura Ace. I bought the 2010 Athena group with silver cranks. I've ridden it twice since building it up last weekend. The shifting is different -- I have to think, its not automatic -- and I wouldn't say its better or worse than Shimano. Personally, I liked the look of it and hated the ugly ass Shimano stuff (especially those cranks). I just couldn't see putting that stuff on a classis steel bike frame. The bike rides great, shifts nicely --- I'm happy so far.

The down side was having to buy a Campy compatible wheelset when I've got spare Shimano compatible wheels laying around gathering dust. That's basically been my barrier for years. I'll need to buy a Campy cassette tool, but not a chain tool because they cost $200! Yep, the Park version costs even more. Guess its a trip to the LBS when I need a new chain.

Athena or Ultegra

Snpiperpilot

Mel Erickson

martinrjensen

SystemShock

danl1

terbennett

terbennett

terbennett

terbennett

Snpiperpilot

scotty_b

Snpiperpilot

kbwh

cs1

malanb

cs1

SystemShock

terbennett

terbennett

pmf

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