I have a Campy 10 speed Record drivetrain with new chain and cassette, with all adjustments correctly made and everything appearing tight, etc... The problem I am having is a mis-shift type noise every time I pedal out of the saddle. It seems more noticeable in a 53X21 on a 12-25 cassette. I have adjusted the cable tension according to the Campy manual and less or more tension seems to make no difference. Any ideas?

I used to have that problem. It was always the chain. I'd get a new chain, and the problem would go away...for about five hundred miles. It all eventually stopped, though, when I put a Connex link on. As they say in internet speak,however, YMMV.

Are you sure the noise isn't the chain rubbing against the front mech cage? The cranks do flex more when you are pedalling out of the saddle, making the chain move side to side more. Just a thought before you buy a new chain. :)
Trimming the front mech will solve this.
SB

...every time I pedal out of the saddle. It seems more noticeable in a 53X21 on a 12-25 cassette...Any ideas?

Why are you out of the saddle riding in your big ring with that gear combination? Shift down to your 39t and put it in the 16t cog.

Why are you out of the saddle riding in your big ring with that gear combination? Shift down to your 39t and put it in the 16t cog.

i'm just guessing here, but you don't race, do you?...

i'm just guessing here, but you don't race, do you?...

My fault CX, I read too much into the query. I assumed that Seano did not race. Most racers I know have multible cassettes for different events and training. Since Seano did not say he tried one of his other cassettes and had the same noise problem I made an assumption. I assumed Seano only had one cassette, therefor I assumed he did not race and then assumed that as a non racer he probably should not be standing in the 53x21 combination.

My fault CX, I read too much into the query. I assumed that Seano did not race. Most racers I know have multible cassettes for different events and training. Since Seano did not say he tried one of his other cassettes and had the same noise problem I made an assumption. I assumed Seano only had one cassette, therefor I assumed he did not race and then assumed that as a non racer he probably should not be standing in the 53x21 combination.

Thanks for all your responses. I believe the problem was excessive cable tension. I do race yet only have one cassette as I don't do many road races, moreso mtb. I did experience similar issues on a previous cassette, which seemed to go away.

What does being a racer have to do with standing in a 53X21? I sit down in it too!

What does being a racer have to do with standing in a 53X21? I sit down in it too!

Here are more of my wild assumptions. Maybe CX will chime in too.

A 53x21 is close to a 39x15 or 39x16. When you are in the 53x21 you are cross chaining, look at the angle of your chain, the extreme would be your big ring and your largest cog 25t. Normally you try to avoid crosschaining as it adds strain/wear to your drivetrain. If you are in terrain that requires you to be standing in your 53x21 then you should probably be in your small ring, 39t.

The exception to this concept of avoiding crosschaining would be racing. Shifting from your big ring to your small ring requires a small hesitation as you ease up on your pedal stroke, therefor you might forego using your front derailer for a small rise. While racing you may not always remember what cog you are in and certainly dont want to be looking at your cassette while in the middle of the pack so you may not know what cog you are in. There may be a sudden surge or attack that requires you to stand in your 53x21.

When you race or do anything of critical importance with your bike, it's better to stay the big ring as long as possible, in my opinion. Shifting in the front is always more risky and for sure it's slower. Especially, when you have to go back from small to large ring in short succession.

What does being a racer have to do with standing in a 53X21? I sit down in it too!

while you're out training, i would for sure shift into the 39, but when racing, i don't want to take the chance of dropping the chain while shifting. if you're training, the chain really does take a beating when you cross chain like that. if you don't race it's just plain stupid to beat on a chain like that, unless you like throwing $$$ at your bikes drivetrain. of course, i don't have any problem selling chains to people who cross chain and wear them out quickly, just don't complain about them only lasting 1000mi because of it...