[BethR]

What are the pros and cons of campy vs. shimano?<br><br>
And, campy's chorus groupset - in the middle in terms of quality?<br><br>
(Can you tell I'm starting the bike search??) Thanks

 

[RandMart]

Coke vs. Pepsi<br>
Mac vs. PC<br>
McD vs. BK<br><br>
Same thing.

 

[jroden]

I have owned both over the years, some women like the campy more for small hands as the ergo levers work a little differently from the Shimano (p.s. don't forget about the new Sram shifters too). The quality of Campy is very nice, you can rebuild things like the ergo levers if you are so inclined, but parts are pretty expensive. Replacement campy parts are a little steep for my tastes, especially teh 10 speed cogs and chains. I have used shimano ultegra and sometimes dura ace over the years with good luck, maybe 10 bikes worth. In general if the levers fail they often do so during the warranty. Hubs are the one area where the dura ace is a good investment. Overall, I'm quite happy with shimano products.

 

[BethR]

Thanks guys - What about mixing and matching? If a campy component goes, can you replace it with the shimano equivalent, or do they not work together, or does it depend on what component?

 

[valleysuper]

Beth<br>
Other than maybe an aftermarket chain, nothing else can be interchanged as far as I know. I have chorus now and converted it from road bike to tri and I do like it, but not as much as I liked shimano. Just something about my old Ultegra/Dura ace mix. It was so reliable and consistent. I have had to adjust my campy more often, but it seems a crisper, faster shift when I have the campy dialed in, but thats not fair the shimano has over 9,000 miles on them.<br><br>
Hope it helps<br>
Just try them both, its a big decison

 

[jroden]

Yeah, in general you are kind of wedded to your choice as far as the driveline goes. the other reason I like the Shimano (I'm still in 9 speed timewarp for 4 bikes and countless wheels) is it's so much more common I can take a wheel off someone or out of a service car or local bike shop because the shimano is so much more common.<br><br>
Personally, I'd default to Shimano unless you have a really good reason for Campy. I'm not sure of the impact of our weak dollor, either.

 

[BethR]

Thanks again - good insights guys. I'm asking because I'm looking at a used bike with campy components - actually they are Veloce groupset (I said Chorus before, and that was wrong). I think Veloce is a step down from Chorus - what does that translate into shimano - 105s?<br><br>
I have a bianchi now with mirage/veloce mix - and I think it's that mirage front derailluer that's been a problem ever since I got the bike. It was a problem for the last owner, and each time it's tuned up, it's better, but quickly slips back into problems getting in the big ring up front.<br><br>
So, I definitely want to make sure I have decent components. Some of the bianchis come with the ultegra/105 mix - I wish the one I was looking at did, maybe it's worth waiting for.

 

[jroden]

Talk to the shop and get what you desire, it's slow this time of year and they should be able to build up a bike with what you want. I think part of your derailer problem is a lack of familiarity on the part of the mechanics, Bianchi is one of the few companies to spec lower end bikes with Campy, so mechanics may be less used to working on them.