[jhenry4]

i'm building up a pair of new road bikes and have the opportunity to make them either shimano or campy and can't quite make up my mind. i realize the ergonomics are a high priority and a very personal thing but what are some of the other benifits of building with campy?

also, one of the bikes is for my wife who has smaller hands, which control levers are better suited for the smaller handed female types?

thanks

 

[Firefly55]

The soul of cycling rests in Italy. The history, the pedigree the very essence of cycling is found in the eqipment produced by this Italian manufacturer. There is no contest - full stop. Campagnolo wears in. Shimano wears out.

 

[Juanmoretime]

If you where to pay the same amount for a group, Dura Ace and Record are very close in price, and one group you threw parts away when they broke and the other you could rebuild, what would you choose?

Campagnolo!

 

[Road cyclist]

3 reasons

1. Technology: Campy has a better patented indexed shifting design that Shimano cannot copy. I am talking about the compact brake hoods
and not whether Campy shifts better or more smoothly than Shimano.

2. History: Campy invented the first parallelogram (spelling?) motion RD.

3. Fame: When riding your Campy-equipped bike, this will attract beautiful Italian women and you may be inspired to train harder.

 

[alienator]

1. Rebuildability. Just makes sense.
2. Clean cable routing.
3. Shift multiple cogs in both directions.
4. God uses it.
5. It gives an instant "in" w/ Italian women if you're in Europe.

 

[Hillen]

I'm pretty passionate about the whole Campy thing -- I grew up in a town with a good LBS, and drooled over all the polished aluminum Campy parts under the glass case at the register every time I went in for something else -- I couldn't afford a single part, but I wanted them all. Now, happily, I have Campy stuff, and I love it.

Of course, if I really try to be coldly objective, I think that in the abstract the choice between the two really comes down to the ergonomics, and if you're used to one and don't find the ergonomics of the other compelling, stick with what you know.

On the other hand, it sounds like you're actually building these bikes on your own, so I'll assume you do your own wrenching? The Campy components are user servicable, fully rebuildable, and parts are readily available from sources here in the US (ain't cheap, but you can get them). I've stripped (to the last part) and rebuilt every component I have (2004 Chorus) other than the BB. (BTW, they didn't need rebuilding, but I wanted to do it, so I did.) If you like working on this stuff, and you're not locked into the Shimano ergonomics, I'd think this is a great opportunity to make the switch. You won't regret it.

 

[Mr. Scary]

Remember Tyler Hamilton? He was forced to use Campagnolo when he switched to Phonak, but now that he rides solely for his own foundation (THF) and can choose his own components he chooses Shimano. That speaks volumes...

 

[jmoryl]

1. Technology: Campy has a better patented indexed shifting design that Shimano cannot copy. I am talking about the compact brake hoods
and not whether Campy shifts better or more smoothly than Shimano.

2. History: Campy invented the first parallelogram (spelling?) motion RD.

3. Fame: When riding your Campy-equipped bike, this will attract beautiful Italian women and you may be inspired to train harder.

Yes, but on the history point: SunTour invented the slant parallelogram mechanism that is the basis of the current Campy design. Others had to wait until the SunTour patent expired in 1984 - see http://www.hadland.me.uk/page35.htm .

Nevertheless, the OP should still use Campy!

 

[ballmon]

Remember Tyler Hamilton? He was forced to use Campagnolo when he switched to Phonak, but now that he rides solely for his own foundation (THF) and can choose his own components he chooses Shimano. That speaks volumes...

Ahhhh........Not really!!

 

[Wicked2006]

Remember Tyler Hamilton? He was forced to use Campagnolo when he switched to Phonak, but now that he rides solely for his own foundation (THF) and can choose his own components he chooses Shimano. That speaks volumes...

Miguel Indurain was forced to use Campy and won 5 TDF's. That speaks volumes.

 

[jhenry4]

speaking of sex appeal

one of the bikes i'm building is for my wife. will the Campy components help her to attract some good italian men?
so that she'll leave me alone to ride my new campy equiped bike of course...

 

[bsdc]

I like the feel of the Campy hoods over the Shimano hoods. I like the Shimano shifter location over the Campy thumb shifter. I like the firm, notchy click of the Campy shifters over the vague click of the Shimano shifters. I like the ability to make slight adjustments to the front deraileur with the Campy shifter. I like the carbon and aluminum of Campy over the plastic and aluminum of Shimano. I like that Campy tends to slowly evolve and works to make its components compatible. Shimano seems to purposely make components incompatible. Shimano is more readily availible. Campy is more unique. Shimano is quieter.

 

[atpjunkie]

lets see, my record ergo 9 shifters

are over 6 years old, freshly rebuilt and running like new. my Shimano Ultegras died at 10K miles and had to be 'replaced'. On my ride home the other day a paland I were in a sprint. While in the drops and standing as we cleared a little rise I dumped 2-3 gears and left him for dead.

I built my wife a Campy equipped bike and it made her cry as she knows nothing says "I love you more than Ciclismo Italiano"

 

[ampastoral]

Remember Tyler Hamilton? He was forced to use Campagnolo when he switched to Phonak, but now that he rides solely for his own foundation (THF) and can choose his own components he chooses Shimano. That speaks volumes...

he also chooses his own doctors. so yeah, good choice......sorry, couldn't resist

 

[Road cyclist]

Yes, but on the history point: SunTour invented the slant parallelogram mechanism that is the basis of the current Campy design. Others had to wait until the SunTour patent expired in 1984 - see http://www.hadland.me.uk/page35.htm .

Nevertheless, the OP should still use Campy!

I apologize jmoryl_sun.

 

[Mr. Scary]

Miguel Indurain was forced to use Campy and won 5 TDF's. That speaks volumes.

Indurain-sponsored by Campy.
Hamilton-unsponsored, buys his own sheat, I fail to see the similarities in your analogy.
Using your logic-LA won 7 TDF's on Shimano-THAT MY FRIEND TRUMPS CAMPY!!

My point for the people that can remain objective is that while Campy may be more sexy, Shimano works better.
For the guy with the Colnago that dropped a riding partner (and he attributed it to his Campy), judging from your bike setup you aren't real fast (you have very little flexibility or strength in your torso) so quit racing the six year olds on their BMX bikes and return to reality...

 

[odeum]

actually, for that size frame the drop does indeed appear fairly proportionate, and assuming it is in some way an indicator of being "real fast" is only speculative at best.



"there are not many villians buying and selling on www.campyonly.com classified"

Indurain-sponsored by Campy.
For the guy with the Colnago that dropped a riding partner (and he attributed it to his Campy), judging from your bike setup you aren't real fast reality...

 

[il sogno]

I am a woman. I have smaller hands.

For me, the Campy hoods and shifters fit me better. My problem w/ Shimano was that I would inadvertently apply the front brakes when trying to shift with my left hand. Almost did an endo on a test ride.

 

[alienator]

Indurain-sponsored by Campy.
Hamilton-unsponsored, buys his own sheat, I fail to see the similarities in your analogy.
Using your logic-LA won 7 TDF's on Shimano-THAT MY FRIEND TRUMPS CAMPY!!

My point for the people that can remain objective is that while Campy may be more sexy, Shimano works better.
For the guy with the Colnago that dropped a riding partner (and he attributed it to his Campy), judging from your bike setup you aren't real fast (you have very little flexibility or strength in your torso) so quit racing the six year olds on their BMX bikes and return to reality...

Well, I wonder what little nugget leads you to think that one works better than the other......wait: trolls don't need nuggets.

 

[Wicked2006]

Campy is just better

Indurain-sponsored by Campy.
Hamilton-unsponsored, buys his own sheat, I fail to see the similarities in your analogy.
Using your logic-LA won 7 TDF's on Shimano-THAT MY FRIEND TRUMPS CAMPY!!

My point for the people that can remain objective is that while Campy may be more sexy, Shimano works better.
For the guy with the Colnago that dropped a riding partner (and he attributed it to his Campy), judging from your bike setup you aren't real fast (you have very little flexibility or strength in your torso) so quit racing the six year olds on their BMX bikes and return to reality...

I rode Shimano for years and it always failed on me with all the miles I put on them. When Shimano breaks or fails, you have to replace everything. Can not be rebuilt. Campy stuff can be rebuilt and just feels better to me. You don't have to agree with my analogy and just so you know Miguel perfered Campagnolo over Shimano.

LANCE could have won the Tour on a BMX bike. EPO does work. Trolls don't need nuggets. Funny Alienator.