[Laingy2020]

Hi all I know a simple google search will bring up the current prices of the mentioned groupset. My question is what can I reasonably hope to obtain theses groupsets for? Thanks

Topic

[dolly]

Nick T wrote:

I hope not, putting SR12 on my next frame when it’s built. A touch heavier than 11 but supposedly slicker

Sorry, what I meant was that Chorus 12 speed is a backward step from Chorus 11 speed – heavier, less bling, less gorgeous IMO. But of course also cheaper. And now, looking at it from a Fairlight Secan build point of view,  it’s looking more and more attractive. It could make for a decent winter/gravel type bike with 48/32 on the front.

 

 

 

[Richbeck]

Fully agree – I have Shimano
Fully agree – I have Shimano Ultegra and Campag 12s Record.

Both shift gears but the Campag is more ” mechanical” and positive – I prefer descending with a brake lever which has a single function and will not flap about side to side. I smile every time I shift with Campag – Shimano just happens!

And if you’ve ever had to repair a lever – the Shimano has about a million moving parts whereas Campag has about 3!

If you live where I think that you do too, Swinnertons and Rourkies can get hold of spares really easily.

Only downside is price – heart over head!

[AndyH01]

Where do you draw the line?
Where do you draw the line? What finishing kit/wheels are you using?
I went through this a few years ago, brought a Mason Bokeh, as Italian frameset built up in UK for prestige/athethetics I was looking to put Chorus on it (as others never actually used it/hard to test it) went from 105 to Ultegra, it just works, can’t see it much when riding it still enjoy riding it been faultless and had extra cash in the bank, could pay for a nice cycling tour. Bike fit so comfy for hours in saddle. I did upgrade to Italian bars. Still turns heads as quite rare bike, no one else in club has one ?
I’m starting to get n+1 itch mind, after I’ve got a Neo 2T, mainly for the turbo but probably go for carbon frame with Chorus when funds allow.
I also occasionally think I could swap the Ultegra out for chorus if/when needed/funds allow… But I just can’t justify it, same with the wheels, came with Hunt wheels keep saying “will upgrade” but again can’t justify.
Priority for me at mo is the Turbo so I can get miles in…
Guess my rambling thought is if you can afford it, get whatever, if on a budget, to start with at least, go Ultegra and upgrade to Chorus/Record/SR at a later date.
My old bike had 105 rim.brake, new has Ultegra disc bar difference in brakes, both work/feel just the same to me and type riding I do.

[Mathemagician]

il sole wrote:

I stand corrected! i must admit i thought the original potenza was power torque..??

I think Potenza rim brake was originally, but the disc groupset has always been UT. Looking on their website now it looks like all groupsets use UT, even Centaur. 

[il sole]

Mathemagician wrote:

Mathemagician wrote:

il sole wrote:

lastly as a point about potenza vs chorus, I’d go for chorus as it’s easier to service at home as it uses ultra torque rather than power torque for the crank set…my old athena was power torque and it was a bit of a pain…

Potenza uses ultra torque.

I stand corrected! i must admit i thought the original potenza was power torque..??

[Mathemagician]

il sole wrote:

il sole wrote:

lastly as a point about potenza vs chorus, I’d go for chorus as it’s easier to service at home as it uses ultra torque rather than power torque for the crank set…my old athena was power torque and it was a bit of a pain…

Potenza uses ultra torque.

[Nick T]

I hope not, putting SR12 on

I hope not, putting SR12 on my next frame when it’s built. A touch heavier than 11 but supposedly slicker

[srchar]

Campagnolo themselves say

Campagnolo themselves say that functionality comes first, then form. Here’s mine:

[dolly]

Couldn’t agree more. Chorus

Couldn’t agree more. Chorus 11 speed is a lovely groupset, although the new 12 speed is a bit of a backward step in my opinion. Built a bike with Chorus 11 mechanical disc last year and not only does it look fabulous, it performs faultlessly.

[Nick T]

The step from Potenza to

The step from Potenza to Chorus is worth the money if you can stretch it. The step from Chorus to Record/SR, probably not so much to be honest. I’ve got bikes with all 4 in 11 Speed, Potenza is fine and it works but it’s probably one I wouldn’t buy again along with Record. Chorus for the functionality and ergos, SR for the bling

[il sole]

Don’t be put off by the price

Don’t be put off by the price! i think campag is worth it hands down.

without wanting to turn this into a shimano vs campag slanging match, i think most people will always prefer the feel of one over the other. Campag will give you a wonderfully assertive ‘thunk’ every time you change, it’s got a sort of mechanically positive feel to it which you either like or don’t. I find ultegra and dura ace too slick, almost oily and overly easy, but it is personal choice.

One big thing though is the one lever one function philosophy with campag and their much more ergonomically designed hoods and levers…

I’ll also add that i have 12 speed record rim brake and it’s fab. it REALLY is worth going to 12 over 11, not just for the aesthetics, but the functionality is much better than before, and I have gone from super record 11sp to record 12sp

lastly as a point about potenza vs chorus, I’d go for chorus as it’s easier to service at home as it uses ultra torque rather than power torque for the crank set…my old athena was power torque and it was a bit of a pain…

[srchar]

Why would someone who wrote 

Why would someone who wrote “on my summer bike (Potenza disc) I have no issues at all” be an ideal candidate for electronic shifting?

Discs bring clear benefits, although I was reluctant to adopt them, but having tried electronic shifting (10-speed Ultegra di2), I went back to mechanical. I actually found it a backward step in functionality; hard to use in winter gloves, difficult to judge a multi-sprocket shift, and of course it needs charging, albeit infrequently. I can only imagine the love for electronic shifting is due to many people riding around on badly-setup mechanical systems.

[Mathemagician]

Ha…you’re not the first

Ha…you’re not the first person to suggest that!

[Pilot Pete]

Sounds like you would be the

Sounds like you would be the ideal candidate for electronic shifting….

PP

[Mathemagician]

I have the Potenza disc

I have the Potenza disc groupset on my main bike and I’m definitely swtiching out the Shimano hydraulic disc setup I have on the winter bike as soon as I can justify the spend. As others have mentioned, Potenza disc can be picked up for £650 – £700 on Wiggle, which I think is cheaper than Ultegra disc is at the moment. If I were building a new bike I’d think about going to Chorus 12 but that’s mostly for looks if I’m honest. 

I don’t think you’ll struggle to get used to the hand position…in my opinion the ergonomics on Campag disc groupsets are light years ahead of Shimano and Sram. I know we’re wandering into answering questions you haven’t asked, but I recently upgraded my wife’s disc brake bike to Tiagra hydraulic disc (she’s used to the shift mechanism and didn’t want to change). The shape is the same as 105 and Ultegra, and I was laughing at the size of the shifters…they’re fucking HUGE! All the noise on their release was how they’ve done away with the bulbous shape of the RS505s with the new design, but the new levers aren’t exactly small. And that ridiculous bulge on the inside of the shifter from the hydraulic cable exiting the shift lever…really Shimano? 

If you’ve got big hands and struggle with smaller shifters, then you might well prefer Shimano, but for me there’s no discussion to be had. 

Another thing that I personally prefer is the feel of the shifting, especially on the front. I’ll say now that I know my situation is probably a rarity, but it does highlight the “weight” of the shifting. I clean snapped my left ulna and radius last year in an accident, so both bones in my forearm are held together with plates and screws now. Since then, I really struggle to shift up to the big ring on my winter bike (Ultregra R8020), I really have to throw some weight behind it. But on my summer bike (Potenza disc) I have no issues at all. Before the accident if someone had asked me which was lighter to shift I’d have said Ultegra, but now it’s pretty clear to me that it’s not (at least on the front). 

[Author]

Replies