Basic drivetrain queries for the roadies...

thanks. i'd be doing long rides and tours, not racing; sunny weekends, civilised rather than competitive. what is the advantage of compact? more acceleration? lighter?

to me it seems pointless to mix campag and shimano...? although campagnolo seems most expensive (i know this is a massive can of worms btw).

i was looking at a preview article in a magazine today regarding athena... i gather that'll be quite pricey no? also 11 speeds seems a lot and not something i'm particularly drawn to at this stage. plus i really don't want any carbon going on this particular bike.

i want the bike to be fairly classic but built with all new parts. reliable but also high-performance. the frame will be in lugged steel. is it worth looking at older campag kit (say, 2003-05) and saving money or is the newer stuff miles ahead? should i rule out sexy vintage fluted stuff on the grounds of sub-standard (by today's standards ) performance?

honestly, this is so helpful. and very exciting.

hah, I'm building my dad the exact kind of bike, Bob Jackson Audax to be super precise.