Campagnolo: Tradition and elegance from Europe
Impression of Campagnolo
"Campa uses a lot of carbon fibre, especially for higher-quality parts, which not only makes the groupsets light but also visually attractive. The twelve-speed groupsets are immaculately finished, and it is nice to see that the Italians remain true to their high design standards even with the more affordable groupsets. One exception is the eleven-speed Centaur groupset, whose surfaces and details appear significantly less valuable in comparison.
Ergonomics from Campagnolo
The Campagnolo grips are considered to be a hand flatterer, they grip perfectly and the brake levers are also ideally shaped. Campa fans appreciate the operating logic with separate levers for index finger and thumb. The thumb lever on the inside, which is difficult for small hands to reach from the lower handlebar, has to take some criticism. Exceptions are the electronic EPS groupset Super Record and the gravel ensemble Ekar, where the button is shaped differently in each case.
Circuit
The drivetrain components are sophisticated and durable, they run quietly and the gears shift smoothly. Campagnolo is the only manufacturer to still offer purely mechanical groupsets with twelve sprockets. The Chorus is particularly exciting, weighing only 250 grams more than the top Super Record model. Also unrivalled is the Ekar gravel groupset, which can cover more ground with 13 sprockets than the 1x11 and 1x12 drivetrains of the competition; it also impressed in the long-term test.
Brakes
The performance of the Campa disc hardly differs across the groups. It responds sensitively and is hardly susceptible to squeaking noises. Comparatively solid discs prevent heat problems, and it is the most stable of the road bike brakes.
Service and costs
Campagnolo riders are faced with a high initial investment: On average, the groupsets are more expensive than comparable products from the competition. The spare parts prices are also steep at first glance, with a Super Record cassette costing around 300 euros. In the long term, however, the investment can be worthwhile: The components last a comparatively long time and are easy to repair because many individual parts are available separately - defective components therefore do not have to be replaced completely.
Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo: Can parts be mixed with each other?
As a rule, components from different brands cannot be combined with each other. There are only a few exceptions; for example, the drivetrain parts of the ten-speed and eleven-speed generations from Shimano and SRAM are interchangeable. This can be interesting because Shimano wear parts are cheaper and more readily available and also more durable in this generation.
Parts from one manufacturer can be combined across the groups within certain limits. If the number of sprockets on the cassettes is identical, the parts also fit together mechanically. For example, wear parts from cheaper groupsets can be used to save money. The cranks from higher-quality groupsets, for example, can reduce the overall weight somewhat.
The gear ratio can also be adapted to your own needs with the help of parts from other groupsets. Cheaper groupsets often offer cassettes or chainrings that are more suitable for uphill riding. However, the capacity limits of rear derailleurs and front derailleurs must be taken into account; rear derailleurs of more expensive groupsets may not be suitable for large sprockets.
Jens Klötzer
Editor
