Need Help, I can’t decide.
Although this may seem trivial, I can’t make up my mind and need some help.
I’m having my Zank built, and it’s getting closer to being done. It’s been slow torture I tell ya, I’m really excited about this one. I’ve always wanted a lugged steel crosser.
Here’s my dilemma. Which components?
I have a Shimano 9 speed Ultegra drivetrain on a road bike already, that I could use for the Zank.
I’d like to buy some SRAM Force for that road bike, and use the Shimano 9 speed for the Zank. I’d have a utilitarian tubular wheelset built up with some Reflex rims, and Ultegra hubs.
No matter which way I go, I’ll be having a set of tubbies built up.
The other option is finally going the Campy route, (something I’ve wanted to do for a long time) getting some Centaur bits for the Zank, and having a set of tubbies built with some chorus hubs.
I have two other cross bikes that are Shimano 9 speed, and my pit bike will be one of those two.
So does it make sense to have my race bike, and pit bike with different drivetrains?
This does concern me if I have to swap bikes. I don’t want to have to think about having to adjust to a different shifting system, if I need to grab the pit bike. How often do you really need the pit bike? I dunno, never had one before?
Or, should I use the drivetrain off my roadie, and replace it with SRAM?
The Centaur option for the Zank would be the cheaper of the two scenarios.
Currently 3 of my bikes are Shimano 9 speed, I would like to start phasing out the 9 speed bits, but don’t know if it makes sense.
Help me guys cuz I need to get going on those tubby wheels being built, and I just don’t know which way to go? :confused:

SRAM Rival for the cross bike. Go with a compact crank, 36/46. Get Paul brakes. Go with DA hubs since they have better seals than the Ultegra. Get Velocity Deep-V tubular rims since they'll be better in the mud -- and you can probably color coordinate with the bike.

i agree w/ gripped. rival.

if that cant happen, then:

having all your stuff be compatible is a good idea tho (shim 9 spd), at least in my head. keeps it simple, when things break, you can just pull something off one bike to the other, etc. thats the "sensible" answer

however campy crossers are sweet !

wouldn want to be switching shifters during a race, PS&V, but then again, I don't race and I have been certified as 57% brain dead. I am mostly shimano, but do find sometimes its not automatic when I am on a campy beast--would hate to miss a shift in the middle of a race due to that......

b21

Oh and very much look forward to your review--he is SO close by and I have been talking a buddy into going custom with a Zank--give me an excuse to go meet him....

wouldn want to be switching shifters during a race, PS&V, but then again, I don't race and I have been certified as 57% brain dead. I am mostly shimano, but do find sometimes its not automatic when I am on a campy beast--would hate to miss a shift in the middle of a race due to that......

b21

Oh and very much look forward to your review--he is SO close by and I have been talking a buddy into going custom with a Zank--give me an excuse to go meet him....
I dunno, Gripped says Rival, but iffin I'm gonna buy a SRAM drivetrain, it's gonna be the Force to put on my roadie, The Zank would then get the Ultegra 9 from the roadie. I dunno, this haunts me for some reason, would you put shimano on a Sachs? Seems kinda sacrilegious? KajuKembo has Shimano on his Zank, and that bike is sick I tell ya, I fell in love with it the first time I saw it.
How often do you really need a pit bike? I dunno? I've never had one.
It's not like I'm an eliteist either, I'm in the "C"s, do I really need a pit bike? Iffin I flat I'm screwed anyhow, unless it happes right next to the pit area.
I dunno, I'd really like to go Campy, but then again I'd really like to put SRAM Force on my road bike. I can't do both, so it's gotta be one or the other? :confused:

Go Campy on the Zank. Variety is the spice of life! And Zanconato ain't a Japanese name last time I checked. :-) Is the tubeset Italian steel? Might be nice to have an all-Italian bike.

Have you talked to Zank? He may be able to get you a great deal on the Campy grouppo (and not the SRAM, or vice versa). Congrats on your new ride.

i would go campy or rival. they are both so much cleaner for a cross bike. i won't buy sram until they "fix" the front shifter performance. judging by the massive display of proto front shifters, i would suspect a change for next season with some trimming.

oh, if this is the only campy bike, you can buy a nice little barrel adjuster for the rear derailleur to still run shimano wheels and cassettes cleanly. i put that on the ladie's bike because she wanted campy without losing her pink king hubs. granted she is not an aggressive racer, but we've had no problems with it. the part is made by jtek and is pretty simple and inexpensive.

On the new bike. It's close enough that you can share wheels, chains and cassettes and have the bikes still shift with the 9 spd Shimano. You'll have to change out a part in the Campy shifter body to work, but that's no big deal. Just find yourself a good mechanic that knows Campy (I'm thinking Molly from Veloshop if you're in Portland) and go for it.