Campy Racing T vs Centaur RD

Steve Braun said:

All things being equal is a new Centaur long cage RD any better than a 1999
NOS Racing T rear derailleur?

While we're at it, can someone just tell me if the Centaur's long cage
is longer, shorter, or the same length as the Racing T's? If anybody
has numbers for the pulley-center to pulley-center length on Centaurs, I
can measure the Racing-T's.

Last summer I wanted to put the 26T cog in back and a 26T ring in front
on my Racing T setup [serious mountain ride, old knees] and there was
just a bit too little chainwrap to do the job to my satisfaction.

For the OP - if your Centaur shifters are newer than 2000,2001 or so,
you may hear about an alleged incompatibility with older shifters,
though many knowledgeable posters here say it works fine for them.

Except for a possible difference in cage length, my guess is that the
Racing T is just as nice as the Centaur.

Mark

Steve Braun said:

All things being equal is a new Centaur long cage RD any better than a 1999
NOS Racing T rear derailleur?

I'm looking to compile a Campy 9 speed triple drive train. I will be using a
9 speed Shimano cassette, Centaur 9 speed shifters and Racing T crankset.

Roughly equivalent quality - which do you prefer aesthetically?
The older 'triple' is shorter than today's 'long'.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Steve Braun said:

All things being equal is a new Centaur long cage RD any better than a 1999
NOS Racing T rear derailleur?

I'm looking to compile a Campy 9 speed triple drive train. I will be using a
9 speed Shimano cassette, Centaur 9 speed shifters and Racing T crankset.

The new Centaur long cage is longer. The NOS Racing-T with Centaur
shifters will shift your Shimano 9 more precisely.

That said, I use Daytona '99 shifters on my tandem with current long
cage Centaur and the shifts are excellent. My 10 sp Campy shifters
shift Shimano 9sp cassettes fine with either a current derailleur or
8sp Campy derailleur. I believe that if I mount the cable on top of
the mounting bolt, I'll shift Campy 9 too.

Mark Janeba said:

While we're at it, can someone just tell me if the Centaur's long
cage is longer, shorter, or the same length as the Racing T's?
If anybody has numbers for the pulley-center to pulley-center
length on Centaurs, I can measure the Racing-T's.

From the Campag website, the lengths for the three Centaur derailleurs are
55mm, 72.5mm, and 89mm.

http://www.campagnolo.com/groupsets.php?gid=3&cid=1

James Thomson

Steve Braun said:

All things being equal is a new Centaur long cage RD any better than
a 1999 NOS Racing T rear derailleur?

Racing T cage length is equivalent to the Medium versions of the current
derailleurs and is adequate for all but the most extreme of ranges. Since
it's pre 2001, it will move by a slightly different amount per click
(compared to 2001+ 9-speed Centaur). Also it will have a conventional
style b-tension screw instead of the new design. See
http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3946 and the Campag site.
Weight: I couldn't tell you for the 99 model. Aesthetics: slightly nicer
than Centaur. Shifting performance & durability difference: probably none
(apart from the geometry issue).

Quoted message said:

I'm looking to compile a Campy 9 speed triple drive train. I will be
using a 9 speed Shimano cassette, Centaur 9 speed shifters and Racing
T crankset.

Indexing won't be perfect. Use a Shimano chain, though, as it's
narrower.

~PB

Mark Janeba said:

While we're at it, can someone just tell me if the Centaur's long cage
is longer, shorter, or the same length as the Racing T's?

Longer. At least for the 2001 model I have, Racing T length is exactly
the same as all current Medium cages.

Same with 2002 Xenon "Triple". Long cages only got truly long quite
recently -- 2002?

~PB

Mark Janeba said:

Last summer I wanted to put the 26T cog in back and a 26T ring in
front
on my Racing T setup [serious mountain ride, old knees] and there was
just a bit too little chainwrap to do the job to my satisfaction.

My Mediums have coped with 26T ring + 30T at the back (yes that way
round). It helps to keep the chain as short as possible (for the
big-big). I only needed a Long cage after switching to a 24T granny ring.

~PB

Steve Braun said:

All things being equal is a new Centaur long cage RD any better than a 1999
NOS Racing T rear derailleur?

I'm looking to compile a Campy 9 speed triple drive train. I will be using a
9 speed Shimano cassette, Centaur 9 speed shifters and Racing T crankset.

Thanks

The current rear der cages are longer, which gives you a wee bit more
versatility in terms of cranks and cogsets. The 'Racing T' is a medium
cage length of today.

Paul Kopit said:

Steve Braun said:

All things being equal is a new Centaur long cage RD any better than a 1999
NOS Racing T rear derailleur?

I'm looking to compile a Campy 9 speed triple drive train. I will be using a
9 speed Shimano cassette, Centaur 9 speed shifters and Racing T crankset.

The new Centaur long cage is longer. The NOS Racing-T with Centaur
shifters will shift your Shimano 9 more precisely.

Not so. I challenge anybody to tell the difference in shifting crispness
of the Racing 'T' length cage and a 'long' cage.