Which Groupset?

I have been riding a fair bit on 10sp veloce group and am impressed with quality... All the fuss over Power torque is a bit overblown on here. Yes they are annoying to extract but how often do you do that? stiff and smooth crank-set that compliments any age of frame. The weight and finish of the group is much more pleasing than 105. Rode the Ghisallo on carbon centaur on a hire bike this summer and couldn't tell the difference between veloce... it visually matched the carbon frame it was built on better.

If you can plump for it, chorus and up is noticably better as you get the 5 gear shift that makes the 'double dump' possible. This is the feature that really sets campag apart from the other mechanical groupsets. Coming from shimano and sram i have grown to really love this feature at the bottom and top of climbs as you can go from cross chained in big / big cogs to the same gear ratio on the inner ring and then have options as you climb. This all happens instantly rather than cycling down the block as you do with shimano / sram click by click.

Di2 has this feature but the lack of multishift in both directions on the mechanical groups is something i miss when i change bikes (including the veloce set up)...

I'm in a bit of a predicament at the moment.

I'm running 2007 Mirage compact, which due to my own lazyness, skintness but also mainly, the fact that nothing has ever gone wrong with it, now needs chain, chainrings, cassette replacing all in one go. I've recently just had to replace the crank bearings for the second time in a year (about 4000 miles) at begrudging LBS cost because I havent got the tools to replace them myself.

Im currently scouting ebay for a used double , since changing the rings on the compact alone appears like its going to set me back close to 60 quid due to the weird propriety bcd on campags compact cranks. Also, I think id get better jumps in gears on a 53/39.

I took a look at what it would cost to replace with a new Veloce double. Noting that its now Power torque and not Ultra torque, im presuming i need to change BB cups also. And buy a bunch of not-so-cheap tools to fit and replace it.

I'm starting to wonder is it worth carrying on down this path or just dump the fucking lot and go shimano or some other second hand campy with square taper.

Yes.

An upgrade to Athena is well priced.

http://www.cyclingbargains.com/product_info.php/campagnolo-athena-11-power-torque-alloy-chainset-p-274

http://www.cyclingbargains.com/product_info.php/campagnolo-outboard-bottom-bracket-cups-p-1115

But the Totalcycling Athena groupset seems a better option if you can sell on the rest of the Veloce parts.

If you get £200 or so for the bits you have. You'll get a 11 speed upgrade, as well as replacing BB, chain, chainrings, and cassette. For £350.

http://www.totalcycling.com/a-z/groupsets/groupsets_road/GR_ATHENA_MIX.html?gclid=COrLsvS8_7oCFUlf3godqhYA4A

Obviously whatever you do is going to cost, but aren't there no-campag branded parts you can buy? TA chainrings are decent and inexpensive and doesn't someone else do cassettes?

In terms of switching to a double, that's a whole other matter based on your needs.

Remember you'll also probably need a new rear wheel if you switch to Shimano.

Miche do Campag cassettes for about £25.

^^ I looked at some stronglight chainrings. Then read somewhere that campag chainrings have one of the bolts offset at a different bcd, so you cant replace them with 3rd party ones.

You can get third party rings, TA definitely do a Campag specific ring with the offset hole.

Also, the switching to a double was a case of: if its going to cost me £60 or so in chainrings and i can find a ultra torque double on evilbay for £70 quid or so with less chainring wear than I have now ... its worth the upgrade surely.

^ I'm sure they do them, it was more from a cost perspective than anything else

That rather depends on whether the 'Bay has Campag chainsets with minimally worn rings for £70. In my experience, it doesn't, and the vast majority of the chainsets for sale have knackered chainrings - the ones that are going for that sort of money, anyway.

^ yeah, that is the experience im currently having. Although I have found one so far that is promising. Minimal wear claim is dubious but surely not as badly worn as mine

To put things in perspective, current Mirage groupset has done about 7000 miles since new with no chain replacement. So as you can imagine worn parts are worn

Sounds like you rode the shit out of it - well done.

I'd bin the lot and go with the Athena SF posted. But that's me.

Or just chuck SRAM rival on it. After 7k miles you could probably justify wheel replacement too

Actually fuck it, just get a new bike.

Actually fuck it, just get a new bike.

From the sound of it, I've a feeling the mechanic said similar, but given how much the original bike would've cost (assuming it was brand new), it'd still be cheaper to service it.

+1 on Athena or SRAM Rival, 7k is quite likely enough to wear out the wheelset.

^ well and truly. Ribble Winter Trainer, £520 in 2008. It's done really well.

As it stands currently, im looking at a tad under 150 notes for chainrings, cassette and tools to replace and fit myself (chain I have already bought).

I suppose its not a lot to ask for the amount of service the current kit has given me

Mechanic said I can't believe you havent snapped that chain yet.

Wheelset is surprisingly in good nick, front bearings needed tightening, small ding in the rear. Lots of miles left in them yet. Aksiums are bombproof it seems.

Probably helps that im not a fat fucker on both counts.

Trust me ed, if a new bike were an option I'd jump at the chance.

I'm pretty surprised that there's no wear on the rims after 7,000 miles, actually borderlining impressive given some of our customer wear them out after 2,500 miles.

Our recent customer with a 2010 Specialized Secteur Elite have just spend over £500 bringing it back in working order (including new wheelsets).

^ I'm sure there is plenty of wear. But they still spin ok, still break ok. I won't be replacing them just yet put it that way.

Geoffrey Butler is a handy shop, if you're looking for cheap older campag.
E.g.
http://www.gbcycles.co.uk/p/39335/Campagnolo-2008-Veloce-UT-10s-Chainset http://www.gbcycles.co.uk/p/32587/Campagnolo-2004-Veloce-10-Speed-Alloy-Chainset

^ thanks for the heads up

Just ordered a Centaur 53/39 from GB. They didn't have the above Veloce in 170mm.

new chain set and cassette fitted today. Happy days

Hope Pro 3 can be run with Campagnolo: 9-/10-/11-speed?

http://www.justridingalong.com/freehub-body-for-pro-ii-evo.html

http://www.bike-components.de/products/info/p30792_Freilaufkoerper-Aluminium-fuer-Pro-3---Pro-2-Evo-.html

This is not true, right?