Just ordered a new custom frameset (Columbus Spirit)-- and I need parts. I'm using the bike for climbing short but very steep roads-- and I do this over and over again-- don't much care for long droning rides in the countryside.
fwiw, I already own 1 bike with Dura Ace, 2 with Ultegra and 1 with 105 (with DA downtube shifters) and you guessed it, my mountain bike is also equipped with Shimano.
So what do y'all think of Chorus...? I would have to run Record cranks because I favour 180mm crankarm lengths-- and with this swap it would bring the price of the group slightly higher than Dura Ace.
Recap-- I'm strong, I like to climb and I'm hard on parts.
Should I make the change for the sake of change...? Or is Campy as good as my bike dealer says it is...???
Just ordered a new custom frameset (Columbus Spirit)-- and I need parts. I'm using the bike for climbing short but very steep roads-- and I do this over and over again-- don't much care for long droning rides in the countryside.
fwiw, I already own 1 bike with Dura Ace, 2 with Ultegra and 1 with 105 (with DA downtube shifters) and you guessed it, my mountain bike is also equipped with Shimano.
So what do y'all think of Chorus...? I would have to run Record cranks because I favour 180mm crankarm lengths-- and with this swap it would bring the price of the group slightly higher than Dura Ace.
Recap-- I'm strong, I like to climb and I'm hard on parts.
Should I make the change for the sake of change...? Or is Campy as good as my bike dealer says it is...???
Thanks in advance...
Personally, I much prefer Campy but it *is* a matter of personal preference. Have you tried Campy Ergo levers? Some people like them, others do not. Since you are obviously happy with Shimano's system the only real reason to switch would be if you liked the Ergos better. Only you can answer that and only after you've tried them.
....and that's the fly in the ointment, I have tried Chorus (albeit briefly) I found the shifting to be clunky-- found the shifting from the small chainring to the large to be difficult (ratcheting up a lever to move a derailleur is not something you have to do with DA), so I can imagine what it's like towards the end of a hard ride where odds have it that I'm tired out of my mind. The one thing that did stand out was how incredibly strong the brakes were-- I liked that.
The only concensus I can find at the moment is that Campy wheels and hubs are the best in the business-- and as you were saying it's a matter of preference for the levers, although I get more of a "you either love them or hate'em" responce from people I've ask.
Thanks
Bob said:
Since you are obviously happy with Shimano's system the only real reason to switch would be if you liked the Ergos better. Only you can answer that and only after you've tried them.
I've ridden Campy for 40 years and Chorus on two bikes over the past ten years. I have never had a problem. I do not find the shifting "clunky" I find it very precise. Nor do I find it difficult for any of the shifts in either direction.
My wife's bikes all have had Shimano and have performed well. But the differences that I have seen are 1) Shimano parts seemed to wear out much faster and 2) often an entire component must be replaced rather than just a small part of it (as oposed to Campy)
...and that's the fly in the ointment, I have tried Chorus (albeit briefly) I found the shifting to be clunky-- found the shifting from the small chainring to the large to be difficult (ratcheting up a lever to move a derailleur is not something you have to do with DA), so I can imagine what it's like towards the end of a hard ride where odds have it that I'm tired out of my mind. The one thing that did stand out was how incredibly strong the brakes were-- I liked that.
The tradeoff for what you describe as ratcheting the lever is that it allows you to trim the front derailleur. That's a small thing for sure but the inconvenience of having to move the lever twice is similiarly small. Personally I find Shimano's method of moving the entire brifter lever to accomplish one simple shift on the rear derailleur to be a much larger drawback but again, it's personal preference.
