Campag Freaks

[Marek]

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/P ... f6bf064ef9

I am sure that you have all seen the new Campag Torque system, integrated bottom bracket with Chainset. Has anyone tried it out yet, if so what do they think, is there a noticable difference?

I cannot quite afford the bling Carbon Chorus or Record version, but am considering the Centaur version as an early Xmas present to myself.

Any bike testers out there managed to get a review on this?

Cheers

Marek....

[Alan M]

Do you have a view on the SRAM groupset marek. Tried it out at the bike show and was impressed with intuitive feel and v positive and swift changes

[Andrew G]

The man from CW, he say yes...
[quote]Let's start by saying that I've always been a Shimano man.

I've always felt you need the hands of a juggler to get the balance between levers and buttons right on Campag and I've never liked the clunking' nature of the shifting, although I understand its appeal to a lot of traditionalists.

So to be fair lets put my prejudices aside and not compare systems but just look at the new Campag in its own right.

I rode a Record equipped Pinarello Paris on the Gran Fondo and tried the other groups on F4:13s back at the hotel.

Shifting worked flawlessly, good and accurate and remember this was a brand new bike and set up with no time for bedding in or adjustments.
The bottom bracket is astounding - having been used to an integrated BB system with the Cannondale for so long I was already convinced of its benefits and this merely underlines that thought. Bear in mind that for a company with the tradition of Campag to suddenly go down this route is a major change of direction, but I think even the purists will love the switch from a square tapered axle when they experience the extraordinary performance. I've never felt more comfortable on seated climbs than I did on the Cannondale, until last sunday on the Paris, and the only thing those two bikes have in common is an integrated BB system. Enough said.

Despite taking a technological step forward, Campag have managed to retain a traditional, almost retro feel with the design of the new groups which again should please the anti-Japanese legions. Right accross the range the groups are 10-speed and they've matched Shimano's 10-speed 105 by making their mid-range systems to a standard that only a few years ago would have been considered high-end.

The real eye-opener for me though is the brakes. Not just the fact that they look so damn good but the performance. Incredible stopping power which a few journalists described as over 'grabby' but I loved it. When you wanted to stop you stopped. Quickly. Very usefull on a ride full of unfamiliar high speed descents. By late in the ride I was confident enough to go haring into all sorts of bends on the wrong line simply because I could trust the brakes to bail me out. There is no way I would have tried some of that stuff on my own bike.

So there you go Campag lovers - you're in for a treat.

Huw.