Please enlighten me.

"k2" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Perusing bike components on-line I come upon this item:
Shimano Ultegra 10sp BR-6600 Front Brake Caliper/Shimano Ultegra 10sp
BR-6600 Rear Brake Caliper

Okay, so someone tell me please, what exactly makes brake calipers "10sp"
? Or any sp at that matter? Are the 10sp levers somehow optimized to work
specifically with these calipers? Or is it, as I suspect, marketing hooey?

Could be that they visually fit in with the rest of the 10sp groupset.
Plenty of people would consider looks a factor when they buy, so although
it's probably marketing, it may not be "hooey".

cheers,
clive

Quoted message said:

Perusing bike components on-line I come upon this item:
Shimano Ultegra 10sp BR-6600 Front Brake Caliper/Shimano Ultegra 10sp
BR-6600 Rear Brake Caliper

Okay, so someone tell me please, what exactly makes brake calipers "10sp"
? Or any sp at that matter? Are the 10sp levers somehow optimized to work
specifically with these calipers? Or is it, as I suspect, marketing hooey?

Nothing quite so sinister. Shimano is simply saying that it's part of the
newer, 10-speed version of Ultegra. Easier for people to keep track of the
number of speeds than whether something is 6400 (8 speed), 6500 (9 speed) or
6600 (10 speed). They're not saying anything's incompatible. Shimano's
actually been rather forthcoming about such things.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

k2 said:

Perusing bike components on-line I come upon this item:
Shimano Ultegra 10sp BR-6600 Front Brake Caliper/Shimano Ultegra 10sp
BR-6600 Rear Brake Caliper

Okay, so someone tell me please, what exactly makes brake calipers
"10sp" ? Or any sp at that matter? Are the 10sp levers somehow optimized
to work specifically with these calipers? Or is it, as I suspect,
marketing hooey?

Isn't that annoying? The thing is that there are going to be scenarios
where it makes a difference, For example, when adding the additional
cog, other revisions are bundled with the components as a group. The
truth is that the only components that are truly required for 10 speed
are the shifter (brifter and the cassette. Actually, the brifter is
optional too because a friction shift lever (pre index tech) can
operate a dérailleur from any group designed for 130mm rear spacing
and use any and all of the 10 cogs. OTOH, keep in mind that the
brifters that are revised for 10 speed operation may have also been
revised in the amount of cable required for ideal operation and the
calipers would also (in some cases, but most likely not) need revision
to operate optimally with the revised brifter.

Campy always states that all components are designed to work with the
group and while this is true, they do not state just how flexible
their components are. I have published specifics many times about this
issue (component mixing from different generations) so I won't state
all of the combinations I have tested myself, so lets' just say that
those "10-speed" calipers are not required for a 10-speed rig, and
likewise will work fine with other older groups if that suits your
needs. The only caveat is that Campy levers have quick-release to
slacken the cable for wheels changes while Shimano still has this
function designed in the calipers. So, Campy calipers with Shimano
brifters will be a problem with most (wider than 700*20) tires. AFAIK,
there are no issues with mixing caliper generations within the same
brands.

k2 said:

Perusing bike components on-line I come upon this item:
Shimano Ultegra 10sp BR-6600 Front Brake Caliper/Shimano Ultegra 10sp
BR-6600 Rear Brake Caliper

Okay, so someone tell me please, what exactly makes brake calipers
"10sp" ? Or any sp at that matter? Are the 10sp levers somehow optimized
to work specifically with these calipers? Or is it, as I suspect,
marketing hooey?

Only compatible with shimano 10s levers...sorry....

;-lo