I had a LBS put together a new bike for me recently using Campy Chorus components - crank, derailleurs, chain, cassette, etc. - and couldn't help but notice that 1) shifting seems stiff and somewhat clunky, 2) the chain is noisy in many gears (not the extremes only) and 3) freewheeling is also loud. I'm compariing it to my other Ultegra and older Record-equipped bikes that seem to shift and run smoothly and quietly. What's up? Are new Campy components rougher than their Shimano equivalents? Do they require more break-in than Shimano? Could it be that using the short rather than medium cage rear derailleur on a 34/50 crank could be causing the problem? Chain too long or too short? Or simply derailleur out of adjustment? As a point of comparison, I put together a Lightspeed last year with an Ultegra group and it runs beautifully - smoothly and silently. Any advice you can give me regarding this problem will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve

Campy stuff is quite tight and stiff when brand new. That's normal, it loosens with use. The chain noise could be not enough lube or slight mis-adjustment. Campy freewheels are louder than Shimano or Mavic. That's normal too.

brewster

Ifreewheeling is also loud. I'm compariing it to my other Ultegra and older Record-equipped bikes that seem to shift and run smoothly and quietly. What's up?

It's easy to quiet a Campy freehub with grease. Very easy task and they can be as quiet as anything on the market. Use a lightweight grease so you don't have any pawl engagement problems.

Check frame/wheel alignment. Clean and lube the crap out of the chain. If that doesn't work, box it up and send it to me in exchange for my Ultegra group.
I thoought I read somewhere that the new Sram chains work better and quieter than campy chains.