Campy 2011: Thoughts?

I've been looking at the promo sheets for the new Campy 2011 groups,
and honestly, it feels like 2007 all over again.

In a flashback to the late, unlamented Escape Mechanism, the lower-end
(Athena, Centaur, Veloce) Ergos again lose the capability to release
multiple cogs' worth of cable at a time. This time, they're calling it
"Power Shift."

On the plus side, those who like the look of polished aluminum now
have an 11-speed option, with Athena having a choice between Al and
Carbon-wrapped levers.

As for the other big change, I'm undecided how I feel about the new
Power-Torque cranks that Athena, Centaur, and Veloce are getting. The
Drive-side is just like on Ultra-Torque, with the bearing pressed onto
the spindle, which is attached to the right crankarm. The Hirth-joint
and half-axles are gone, though - the spindle is full-length, and the
left arm goes onto a spline with a 10mm bolt to hold it on. Without
the ability to press a bearing onto the left side, that side gets a
bearing in the cup, just like every other brand.

http://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/new...ewscatid_3.jsp

Other changes include the 10-speed groups (Centaur & Veloce) getting
11-speed-style linkages on the RD that wrap around the knuckles, and
Campy-branded lever hoods in white or red.

All groups get redesigned teeth on the chainrings and cassettes, and
Record & SR get splashes of red graphics. SRAM envy?

http://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/new...ewscatid_3.jsp

Single-pivot rear brakes are now only available as an option on the 11-
speed groups, with dual-pivot F&R being the standard. 10-speed groups
no longer get the Skeleton treatment, with just one big cutout on the
back arm. They're MUCH less expensive, though - like half the cost of
the Skeleton versions.

ProBikeKit.com has the Centaur group in stock, minus the Power-Torque
BB.

On 23 July, 18:36, Martin Borsje wrote:
11 speed is nuts!

:-(

Ista number. You could run a single ring 46 x
11,12,13,14,15,16,18,20,22,24,26 but a half step with a proper 3/32"
chain on a compact 6 freewheel is not difficult to use. Reliable,
efficient and economical, as long as you can still get the freewheels.
Can be set up to give the same range and gear jumps.

On Jul 24, 2:39*am, Wayne wrote:
On Jul 23, 10:19*am, Hank wrote:

I've been looking at the promo sheets for the new Campy 2011 groups,
and honestly, it feels like 2007 all over again.

Campy lost some of its luster when they abandoned multigear shifts in
BOTH directions. *Less functionality is not an upgrade. *They have
also abandoned high end triples. *Seems like all show and no go to
me.

I know road sprinters who like not having the multigear down shifts
(on to smaller cogs). Nasty to accidentally shift down too far in a
sprint.

JS.