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TECH NEWS
Campagnolo announces new Super Record, Record and Chorus mechanical groupsets
We spotted the new Campagnolo groupset at the Giro d’Italia, and today the Italian company has revealed entirely new Super Record, Record and Chorus mechanical groupsets. The three new groupsets get the same redesigned chainset, Ergopower levers and front and rear derailleurs, all featuring updates to improve shifting performance.
Let’s start with the chainset, because that component sees the biggest changes and is the centrepiece of any groupset when it’s hanging off a frame. Campagnolo have moved to a 4 arm spider with a single BCD (bolt circle diameter) that can accommodate all chainring options, 53/39, 52/36 and 50/34. As well as being a more versatile design and easier to swap rings, Campagnolo say they have increased stiffness by bolting the chainrings directly to the new larger spider. The new chainset will be available in the aforementioned ring combinations and 170, 172.5 and 175mm arm lengths.
This move to a chainset that can easily take any chainrings you want to fit is a sensible step forward, making it significantly easier to change from a standard double to a compact - handy if you’re going to the Alps for a week but don’t really want to fork out for a whole new chainset.
The unequal spacing between the arms makes the chainset resemble newer models from Shimano.
The new front derailleur is an evolution of the one we first saw on the Super Record RS groupset a while back. The Super Record version uses a one-piece carbon fibre outer cage to reduce weight while apparently maintaining the same stiffness of the RS, which uses a prototype aluminium cage. To improve shifting they’ve added a longer arm, similar to Shimano’s Dura-Ace, which increases leverage for lighter and easier upshifts to the large chainring.
Also getting a dramatic makeover is the rear derailleur. The “new design is stiffer, smoother and functions even better than its predecessor,” says Campagnolo, and they have achieved this by reshaping the parallelogram mechanism and changing the angle at which it moves relative to the cassette.
These changes keep the chain closer to the cassette so the chain will engage with more teeth, which they say allows for “better power transfer, better grip/cassette interface and a longer life for consumable components.” They also claim that there is less resistance when shifting at the higher end of the cassette with 25, 27 or 29 sprockets, so shifting performance for an 11-29 cassette will be the same as for an 11-23.
Visually the Ergopower levers look the same, though Campagnolo have reshaped the inside face of the brake lever body so it is a closer fit with a wider range of handlebars, and the hoods are now constructed from a hypoallergenic silicone with varying density and grooves to provide more comfort and grip.
But it’s inside that real change have been made, Campagnolo having tweaked the index pattern. The front shift lever now operates with two clicks to downshift from the large to small chainring, while a third click adjusts the trim when in more “extreme gears”, while three clicks are needed for upshifting, removing the necessity of an additional click for trim.
Campagnolo says of the changes, “The new design allows for shifting across the entire cassette without any interference between chain and derailleur cage.”
The changes to both derailleurs and the shifters should mean it’s possible to cross the chain from big to big, small to small, with no interference or rubbing on the cage, similar to SRAM’s 22 which was designed to allow you to use any gear combination you wanted.
No details on availability or pricing yet, as soon as we know we’ll update you all. More at www.campagnolo.com
David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes.
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24 comments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97mllNoYMmM&list=PLUdAMlZtaV111ze04ANHpU...
if you look closely at the video i think it is clear that there 8 bolts. That there are two BCDs one for the outer and one for the inner.
Ah ha - that's what i've been looking for ! Many thanks for the link and, yep, definitely looks like two different BCDs on those. Sounds like the media has just been regurgitating the 'single BCD' phrase without too much thought.
Continue to have a roof over my head, or buy this new kit?
Difficult decision. Not
I think no one has to justify using Campagnolo but I'm really concerned about the new crankset and that front derailleur. Looking at Campagnolo doing things like Shimano is something I couldn't imagine few years back. They had always tried to do things differently and now their ideas are gone?
Doesn't do it for me at the moment although I agree it looks better than Shimano.
Campag 5 arm chainset was always stunning to look at. That goes back to having Super Record rings on my Record chainset back in 1980. Still think that looks superb (could do with a bit of a polish now though...)
10 speed on my Orbea looks great too. The five arms gave it a classic look - think of how many five spoke alloy wheels there are on cars for example.
Must admit that I missed seeing this when over in Belfast for the start of the Giro. Would have liked to have seen it in the flesh even in prototype form to see if it looks better than in photos.
Wow. At last, a carbon Dura-Ace chainset!
Wonder how long it will be before SRAM come out with a 4 arm crank too - interesting that all the major manufacturers seem to be coming up with the same idea at the same time... independently...
And what about the new long arm on FD (a la Dura ace) ...all a bit odd / fishy!?!?
… which unfortunately makes it almost as ugly.
Each to their own I know, but I've always thought the current 5 arm chainset is a thing of beauty.
Nice. Still not sold on 11spd. Chainset is hideous. Silver Athena 11spd looks so much better. (Not sold on carbon chainsets either...)
Will be sticking with the 9spd Record Ti as nothing so far has made me feel the need to upgrade across 5 bikes...
I'm glad I just bought an 'old' 2014 SR group, I preferred the classic look with a five-arm crank.
However, it explains of course why I was able to get the 'old' one at so much less than RRP...
Nevertheless, I sold a lot of bits and pieces to pay for it!
Anyway, very happy with the shifting so far, so much better than the Ultegra 6700 it replaces, which never shifted properly. The 6600 Ultegra on my winter bike, with thousands of miles use, shifted better than that.
I hated the new crankset when it 'leaked', but with the production graphics on it it does look a lot better. The convenience of one crank for all chain ring combinations as Shimano have done is a big win, although for Campag buyers aesthetics are probably more of a concern than functionality.
I'm not too keen on the new chainset personally, I'll be sticking with the previous at least in that area.
wonder what this means for Athena and the 10spd group sets?
Dunno. I'm Campag til I die but sticking with my trusty 10 spd Carbon Chorus at present. I can't justify EPS, Athena EPS looks cheap, black brakes are ugly with anything and I don't fancy 11 spd mechanical anything. Guess I'm a fussy bugger spiralling into a tech cul-de-sac.
Sounds like it, but then again at least you know what you like which is more than many - and what you like is very, very nice indeed
If you don't like the new chainset then run it with a current one. I personally like it – way better than the Shimano efforts - and I think the new rear mech looks fantastic. EPS hoods are beefier than mechanical and have a nice grip – partly due to the internal workings – but I’m hoping the new models have moved that way too.
Bit confused about the BCD - although a few places are reporting it as a 'single BCD' i've seen at least one place talking about the crank taking 8 bolts which would imply multi-BCD... just one consistent with standard and mid/compacts like 135/110.
Anyone know the score ?
The eight bolts refer to the bolts attaching the chainrings to the new spider, four per chainring, which you can't see from the front
Indeed - hence my question about multi-BCD as it's possible to have a four bolt attachment with a single BCD.
I have never before thought of a front mech as looking sexy, but ..... damn, those Italians know what they are doing.
Chainset isn't as nice on the eye, campy has always done well in this camp, but I see the practice gains (and brings in line with Shimano) and guess it will grow on me.
New four arm chainset looks a bit more tech than the outgoing, but I guess thats the current zeitgeist. Its absolutely commendable that the BCD is the same for all ring combinations.
I like it, specifically because the early adopters (i.e. mugs) will all jump on it, and ebay will soon be flooded with cheap, good quality 11spd kit.
"I like it, specifically because the early adopters (i.e. mugs) will all jump on it, and ebay will soon be flooded with cheap, good quality 11spd kit."
Or flooded with new Chinagnolo grouppos.
Ugly chainset.
I assume that the new FD geo means that old ergo levers are not compatible with the new FD and vice versa.
It's getting harder to justify riding Campag