Shimano & Campagnolo groupsets

Just a quick question, what campa groups would compare to shimano 105 and ultegra?
How do the campa equivalents compare to shimano?

Was thinking of building up my geared guerciotti with one of the shimano groups but now looking into campa because of the shifter design which allows the derailleur cables to be routed under the handlebar tape.

i'm new to it all myself but i'd say that centaur is equivalent to 105 and chorus to ultegra, but they aren't exact substitutes.

New Dura Ace and Ultegra shifters route cables under the tape, same with SRAM.

really? is that ultegra 6600 or is there a new series out? hmmm might go for ultegra then.

apparently it's 6700 ultegra which won't ship until fall...

You have an Italian frame, so why not use an Italian groupset ?

You have an Italian frame, so why not use an Italian groupset ?

Japanese is fine on italian frames. Mapei Colnago anyone?

Campag (or Campy for Americans).

If you call it Campa, then you probably need to stick with Shimano.

You have an Italian frame, so why not use an Italian groupset ?

because pandering to fashion is pointless if you don't get on with the shifters.

i'm new to it all myself but i'd say that centaur is equivalent to 105 and chorus to ultegra, but they aren't exact substitutes.

Thinking of getting a Condor Fratello or Agio with my Cyclescheme voucher. Does this mean 105 will be better value than Veloce?

i've got an old geared road bike with 2000 shimano stuff and the gear routing shimano rx or slr i think
gear cable routing through the bars and into the brake levers / hoods

+1 to MrSmyth. Comes down to which design you're happier using, really. My first modern road bike had 9-speed mixed Campag, I got used to it and so have stuck to it (it's also relevant that I'm a huge fan of all things Italian thanks to my mum being an italianist).

There was a good comparison article about shimano, campag, and sram in last months cycling+.....for me it depends what shifters you can get on with.My personal choice is Campag, because i have small hands, and i prefer the more 'positive' shifting of campag.
But SRAM maybe worth looking at, depends how much cash you have!

I have campag on all my bikes. Pure fashion choice as I think it looks a bit less industrial than the shimano stuff. A couple of points though.

1. I had a cheap shimano group on my first bike. It shifted beautifully and reliably.
   
2. You will find it much easier (and cheaper) to find spares for shimano wherever you live
   
3. I joked with my local bike shop that my campag stuff was 'like jewellery' and he said it was just as fiddly to set up.
   

Point 3 is definite nonsense. Follow the instructions that come with the groupset and you'll be fine. I refused to take my Dave Yates course frame to a shop to get it built up (I built the frame, I want to put it all together) and it's been shifting perfectly ever since.

I found my Campag grouppo pish to set up. Indexing the rear derailleur took about 1 minute, whereas my previous 105 setup needed the indexing absolutely spot-on all the time.

Ergo-wise, I like the shape of the Ergo shifters (using 2008 Record, not the new shape) over Shimano hoods. Haven't used SRAM yet
Shifting-wise, I haven't noticed much of a difference. The Ergos have a slightly more positive action to shifting.
One thing I noticed after using Campag was the ease in which to downshift while braking (i.e. coming to a set of lights). It's harder to modulate the front brake while pushing it sideways on the Shimano setup.

its a bit of a marmite question really, and you will never get an answer that is easy to believe.
In my opinion shimano is the best bar none. oh and a little food for thought is that the money that shimano spend on the R & D department is simalar to what the little italian bike jewlery company spend on their entire production budget.... well thats what i heard at least. believe it or not... :)

I worked in a shop and having to service and test ride everything I can say that setup wise there are no real differences. You can service Campagnolo shifters which is nice...
The new 11-speed SuperRecord is an absolute dream and with the Athena range getting a release soon it will be somewhat affordable for us mere mortals.

When not on my fixed gear I ride mostly Shimano equipment but my absolute favourite groupset was my 8-speed Chorus. It actually got better and better with age - three years in it was the smoothest, nicest shifting bike I've ever ridden bar none. But I was taken in by the lure of 9, 10 and soon to be 11 speeds. Were Campagnolo watching Spinal Tap I wonder.....

Ultegra and Centaur were the most value for money last year and now you can actually get a 6600 Ultegra group for less than a 5600 105 group. 6600 Ultegra is definitely the thinking mans choice right now.

eh? you can get an Ultegra SL groupset for £499 - cheaper than the Ultegra groupset you just posted.

anyhow....

...SRAM.

Ultegra and Centaur were the most value for money last year and now you can actually get a 6600 Ultegra group for less than a 5600 105 group. 6600 Ultegra is definitely the thinking mans choice right now.

What a stupid comment. The thinking man, or woman, would test out all three and go with the one they preferred and was best suited to the riding they had planned.

All three companies offer value for money and all the kit works well so it basically comes down to how you get on with the levers and what you like the look of.

I dont get it?

You cant really compare them directly, especially now that Campag have added more groupsets. It might be something like the list below, but then I've just pulled that out of the air, with little logical basis. I cycle around the in cold of Norway wearing shoes and clothes designed in the warmth of Italy. So I cant really lecture folk on taking the practicle option. but I'd say decide which of the main three manufacturers you like best in terms of fit and function, and buy the best groupset you can afford in their range.

Super Record

Record - Dura Ace - Red

Chorus

Athena - Ultegra - Force

Centaur

• 105 - Rival
  
  

Veloce

Hmm, I'd put Ultegra even with Chorus myself, but there you are.

Hmm, I'd put Ultegra even with Chorus myself, but there you are.

Your probably right.

TBH I put it there out of personnal perception.