RE: Campagnolo Centaur vs. Shimano Ultegra

Chris Sunderland

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Apr 15, 2004, 9:25:00 AM4/15/04

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Tom Casacchia wrote:
>
> What are people's thoughts on Campagnolo Centaur vs. Shimano Ultegra in
> regards to performance and comprability to one another?

Well, first off, Ultegra is a higher ranked group - Centaur is usually
compared to 105. Ultegra is comparable to Chorus; both are the
companies' second-best group, the one aimed at the serious high-mileage
amateur cyclist.

Both Ultegra and Chorus work amazingly well, and will last for many
years of daily use. Shimano is more high-tech, Campagnolo is more sexy
looking. If you have a fashion preference, go for it. Functionally they
are equivilant.

There are a few reasons to prefer one over the other:

1) shifter hand position. The Campagnolo shift button is only
comfortably reachable from the hoods; the Shimano levers are reachable
from both the hoods and the drops. People with smaller hands generally
prefer Shimano levers comfort wise. A test ride on each will give you a
good idea of the difference here.

2) availability. You can walk into any bike shop on the planet and get
replacement Shimano parts; Campy stuff is harder to come by. If you
break down a far way from home, or a shifter falls apart the day before
an important event, your life is easier with Shimano.

3) gearing choices. Shimano sells a full range of mountain components
that are interchangeable with their road ones; Campy does not. So, you
can get a 12/34 rear cassette, or run a 22/32/44 triple, and everything
just works. (If you have a garage full of different bikes, being able to
switch around components, and using one common set of tools, is great).

Peter Jon White

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Apr 15, 2004, 10:04:00 AM4/15/04

to ran...@topica.com

Tom Casacchia wrote:

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>
> What are people's thoughts on Campagnolo Centaur vs. Shimano Ultegra in
> regards to performance and comprability to one another?
>

> Thanks,
> Tom

Centaur hubs are structurally equivalent to Record hubs. The differences
are really only cosmetic. The internals of Centaur, Chorus and Record
hubs all have the same parts.

Campy rear hubs have poor flange spacing which results in high dish when
you build the wheel. But there are now rims (like the Velocity Aerohead)
with offset spoke holes which eliminate the problem.

So Centaur hubs are better made than Ultegra hubs.

Most of the other Centaur components are as good as Ultegra, except for
the bottom bracket. The Ultegra BB is extremely well made, whereas the
Centaur needs to be taken out back and whipped, then shot, and then
burned, just for good measure. It's junk.

But it's cheap to replace when it fails.

--
Peter Jon White
Peter White Cycles
24 Hall Rd.
Hillsborough, NH 03244
603 478 0900 Phone
603 478 0902 Phax
http://www.PeterWhiteCycles.com

Published reports that Peter Jon White
is being investigated by the CIA for
smuggling Teletubby videos into Guantanamo Bay
may not be exaggerated.

D...@smrtinc.com

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Apr 15, 2004, 12:41:00 PM4/15/04

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I had an almost brand new Shimano Ultegra STI go on me about 50 miles
outside Brest, heading west. The "shop" at the Brest controle was incapable
of fixing or replacing it. I had to limp back to the next town, based on
information from some kind soul at Brest, that a bike shop existed about 20
kilometers east that likely could replace it, assuming I got there before it
closed. I did, and they did replace it, but I swore I'd replace my STIs and
go to bar-ends, despite the *perceived* loss of shifting and hand position
flexibility.

Talking that up a bit locally, I hear that Campy STIs are MUCH easier to
work on oneself, carrying along only a few spare parts, as opposed to
Shimano, which it a tangle or parts and pieces and almost impossible for a
layperson to fix in the field. What is the experience of those more in the
know than my "hearsay" understanding? Are bar-ends really advantageous,
since they can "go friction" if the indexing craps out, or are Campy STIs
still a good bet, as long as one is prepared to learn the maintenance
procedures and carry the parts? I find I ride a lot on the hoods, but that
may be, to some degree, because my stem is too low for randonneuring.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Sunderland [mailto:sunder...@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 9:25 AM
To: ran...@topica.com
Subject: RE: Campagnolo Centaur vs. Shimano Ultegra

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Tom Casacchia wrote:
>
> What are people's thoughts on Campagnolo Centaur vs. Shimano Ultegra in
> regards to performance and comprability to one another?

Well, first off, Ultegra is a higher ranked group - Centaur is usually

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I had an almost brand new Shimano Ultegra STI go on me about 50 miles outside Brest, heading west.  The "shop" at the Brest controle was incapable of fixing or replacing it.  I had to limp back to the next town, based on information from some kind soul at Brest, that a bike shop existed about 20 kilometers east that likely could replace it, assuming I got there before it closed.  I did, and they did replace it, but I swore I'd replace my STIs and go to bar-ends, despite the *perceived* loss of shifting and hand position flexibility.

Talking that up a bit locally, I hear that Campy STIs are MUCH easier to work on oneself,  carrying along only a few spare parts, as opposed to Shimano, which it a tangle or parts and pieces and almost impossible for a layperson to fix in the field.  What is the experience of those more in the know than my "hearsay" understanding?  Are bar-ends really advantageous, since they can "go friction" if the indexing craps out, or are Campy STIs still a good bet, as long as one is prepared to learn the maintenance procedures and carry the parts?  I find I ride a lot on the hoods, but that may be, to some degree, because my stem is too low for randonneuring.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
 From: Chris Sunderland [<A HREF="mailto:sunder...@yahoo.com">mailto:sunder...@yahoo.com</A>]
 Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 9:25 AM
 To: ran...@topica.com
 Subject: RE: Campagnolo Centaur vs. Shimano Ultegra

===========================================================
 Your opinion counts! We're conducting a survey for a 
 computer service/repair company. When you complete our 
 survey, you will also be entered into a drawing for one of 
 ten $100 prizes. Just click
 <A HREF="http://click.topica.com/caab8K1aVxiDKa55nrEa/" TARGET="_blank">http://click.topica.com/caab8K1aVxiDKa55nrEa/</A> Val Rad
 ===========================================================
 Tom Casacchia wrote:
 > 
 > What are people's thoughts on Campagnolo Centaur vs. Shimano Ultegra in 
 > regards to performance and comprability to one another?

Well, first off, Ultegra is a higher ranked group - Centaur is usually 
 compared to 105. Ultegra is comparable to Chorus; both are the 
 companies' second-best group, the one aimed at the serious high-mileage 
 amateur cyclist.

Both Ultegra and Chorus work amazingly well, and will last for many 
 years of daily use. Shimano is more high-tech, Campagnolo is more sexy 
 looking. If you have a fashion preference, go for it. Functionally they 
 are equivilant.

There are a few reasons to prefer one over the other:

1) shifter hand position. The Campagnolo shift button is only 
 comfortably reachable from the hoods; the Shimano levers are reachable 
 from both the hoods and the drops. People with smaller hands generally 
 prefer Shimano levers comfort wise. A test ride on each will give you a 
 good idea of the difference here.

2) availability. You can walk into any bike shop on the planet and get 
 replacement Shimano parts; Campy stuff is harder to come by. If you 
 break down a far way from home, or a shifter falls apart the day before 
 an important event, your life is easier with Shimano.

3) gearing choices. Shimano sells a full range of mountain components 
 that are interchangeable with their road ones; Campy does not. So, you 
 can get a 12/34 rear cassette, or run a 22/32/44 triple, and everything 
 just works. (If you have a garage full of different bikes, being able to 
 switch around components, and using one common set of tools, is great).

===========================================================
 Your opinion counts! We're conducting a survey for a 
 computer service/repair company. When you complete our 
 survey, you will also be entered into a drawing for one of 
 ten $100 prizes. Just click
 <A HREF="http://click.topica.com/caab6PVaVxiDKa55nrEf/" TARGET="_blank">http://click.topica.com/caab6PVaVxiDKa55nrEf/</A> Val Rad
 ===========================================================
 *** Replying to this message will reply to its original sender, reply or send messages to the list <A HREF="mailto:ran...@topica.com">mailto:ran...@topica.com</A> as well +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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Peter Jon White

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Apr 15, 2004, 1:34:00 PM4/15/04

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dj...@smrtinc.com wrote:

> I had an almost brand new Shimano Ultegra STI go on me about 50 miles
> outside Brest, heading west.

When STI shifters fail, it's generally due to a bit of grit getting
inside and jamming up the works. It can usually (not always) be fixed by
flushing the mechanism with WD-40. When Campy Ergo shifters go, it's
usually the indexing springs failing from fatigue. You need to
disassemble the lever to replace the two springs. If you know what
you're doing, both repairs could be made on the side of the road.

But let's face it. If you're not racing, who cares about the slightly
faster shifting you get with STI or Ergo? Why not just use downtube or
barend shifters and not worry?

I don't understand why randonneurs would want to use STI or Ergo. I
understand why a crit racer would, but brevets aren't races, right? ;-)

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