New Build - Campag or SRAM

[DannyBoy]

Having Roberts in the UK build me a new custom compact steel frame/carbon fork.

I'm a Campag man thru and thru. Got Record & Chorus of varying ages on my other rides and like it.

On the new bike I'll probably get Campag Centaur Carbon or maybe Chorus 11.

Should I be thinking about SRAM for a change. What's the pros/cons in terms of weight/cost/usability???

Keen to hear from any dual users.

DannyBoy.

[kiwisimon]

Campagnolo. You're emotionally invested. A Euro frame should be Campy. Usability not much difference but if I had the dinero then Campy. SRAM works well, very well but I cut my teeth on Campy.

[jake21]

campy 11 spd.

[kytyree]

Chorus 11 is nice stuff, I think you'll like it.

[cantride55]

I'm Sram'ed on a couple of bikes (I switched from Shimano last year) While I had never rode Campy....the allure had always been there to try it. I somehow felt / thought I was missing out on something. So, when I had a chance to pick up some Chorus for a great price I jumped on it early this year. The only down side to this I have found is double the parts, ie chains, cassettes, wheelsets etc. if you like to keep (and can afford) back up "stuff". Ya may want to consider that "extra cost" into your decision.

[DaveG]

Originally Posted by DannyBoy

Having Roberts in the UK build me a new custom compact steel frame/carbon fork.

I'm a Campag man thru and thru. Got Record & Chorus of varying ages on my other rides and like it.

On the new bike I'll probably get Campag Centaur Carbon or maybe Chorus 11.

Should I be thinking about SRAM for a change. What's the pros/cons in terms of weight/cost/usability???

Keen to hear from any dual users.

DannyBoy.

I have been running Campy for the last 10 years. I bought another frame this spring and built it up with SRAM. That was mainly a cost decision. I will say that I am quite happy with SRAM and I think its a terrific value. I have gotten used to doubletap although I still prefer the Campy thumb shifter. There is the downside of wheel/chain/cassette compatibility with your Campy stuff. Hard to say what the long term durability will be for SRAM stuff. SRAM has adopted some Campy-like features: cable routing; hood shape; brake lever not used for shifting. If money were not an object I would still pick Campy but the SRAM stuff works well, is a better value, and its still not Shimano. I go back and forth regularly between my Campy and SRAM bikes without trouble

[C-40]

You can get Athena 11 with an aluminum crank for the same price as Centaur carbon, at least from Ribble. The new shifters are great and so is the 11 speed shifting.

[Kristatos]

I cast my vote for SRAM. Am waiting for my next frame which should come in the next couple or 3 weeks and I will build it up with Force. My main ride is 10 years old with the same Record 10 gruppo that it was built up with. I am going with SRAM this time to get the most bang for my buck on a bike that will be used primarily for racing.

[paul l]

Originally Posted by kiwisimon

Campagnolo. You're emotionally invested. A Euro frame should be Campy...

Danny, when I bought a Viner from Epic this summer I ordered SRAM Rival but nearly changed to Veloce twice based on scratching that emotive itch.

No shortage of opinions on this forum and elsewhere on how they compare. I felt it came down to the hoods and changing system plus the need to invest in new tools or not. In my case I already had a Shimano bike and so SRAM meant greater compatibility. Depends on how heavily you are into Campag specific items or tools I guess.

As to the DNA, I sort of chuckled when I struggled to decide which way to go as I kept asking myself whether I wanted my Viner dressed with kit from Romania (where Campag is made) or Taiwan (where SRAM is made), lots of laughs.

M Roberts has a mix of old and new (as I replace it) Shimano kit the viner has SRAM. Both have front and rear crud-catchers now in this weather. Again, sacrilige to some of course. The one area I keep thinking about though is bottom brackets based on posts from users. Both cranksets seem fantastically stiff but SRAM BBs come in for a fair amount of criticism unless paying out heavily for ceramic. The latter shouldn't be necessary. I will have a comparison to my Rival and GXP when the Ultegra SL chainset and BB arrives for my Roberts.

[stickboy71]

SRAM. It works.

[kytyree]

Originally Posted by stickboy71

SRAM. It works.

They all work.

[rocco]

Originally Posted by paul l

As to the DNA, I sort of chuckled when I struggled to decide which way to go as I kept asking myself whether I wanted my Viner dressed with kit from Romania (where Campag is made) or Taiwan (where SRAM is made), lots of laughs.

Within these walls lies the capability of and equipment for making every single part in the Campagnolo catalog, but after 70 years of producing all high-end parts in Vicenza, some of the more labor-intensive products (like wheels and carbon-fiber parts) are now made in a 200-person Campagnolo factory in Romania. That doesn’t mean Campagnolo completely eschews production in Asia; on the contrary, supply-chain issues require Asian production if Campagnolo wants to be an OEM supplier to bicycle factories (which it does).

http://www.velonews.com/article/97867

[wankski]

sram rival is probably the best value of the gruppos you've mentioned. and i'm a campy man.

its just hard to ignore a weight competitive, functional gruppo that looks great for under $800. if you look hard enough - slamming deal.

chorus 11 is not compatible with what you have... now that you've mentioned it i've run a campy zonda wheel (campy centaur cassette) on rival - it worked well enough.

[StillRiding]

For years I rode Campy, then for years I rode Shimano, then Campy, then Shimano. For the last four years I've ridden SRAM. If for no other reason, the double tap shifters and shape of the hoods make SRAM the best choice for me. SRAM works well and has proven to be durable. Add in SRAM weight and cost benefits, and the only reason I can see for going with Campy or Shimano is brand loyalty.

[kytyree]

Originally Posted by StillRiding

For years I rode Campy, then for years I rode Shimano, then Campy, then Shimano. For the last four years I've ridden SRAM. If for no other reason, the double tap shifters and shape of the hoods make SRAM the best choice for me. SRAM works well and has proven to be durable. Add in SRAM weight and cost benefits, and the only reason I can see for going with Campy or Shimano is brand loyalty.

If you've been on SRAM for four years have your ridden the Campy group the OP is asking about?

[JoelS]

This is one of those issues where fit/ergonomics makes the decision. Which shifter fits your hands better? For me, it's Campy. None of the others are as comfy.

[digby]

I have campy chorus on the road bike and sram rival on the cross bike.

I like the brake lever feel on campy more. The levers fit my fingers better. For cross, I like the more substantial hoods on rival, though the new campy hoods would probably fix that. I do not like the springs on rival, they take a bit too much effort and in a cross race i'd prefer the lighter feel of campy. That said, I like the ergo of being able to downshift from the drops easier with rival, i must have short thumbs but with campy I have to have my hands fairly high up in the drops to downshift.

[cs1]

Originally Posted by Kristatos

I am going with SRAM this time to get the most bang for my buck on a bike that will be used primarily for racing.

What's the extra bang that SRAM is giving you over Campy? I'm also thinking about another bike and have to say Rival doesn't look bad.

[slegros]

Id go Sram..

I just built up a Look 585 with Sram and love it. I always was partial to French made components (loved my '89 Mavic group-a bit heavy but totally indestructible....) and Sram reminds me a lot of them. Very solid, very logical design(to me anyway..) very nice stuff.

As many have mentioned Rival is an awesome deal, and only 200g or so heavier than Red. As far as I know its lighter than far more expensive Campy groups.

I soured on Campy several years ago when I had problems with 2 separate Record cranksets. Since then Ive just never had confidence in Campy stuff.

Regardless I far prefer the feel/layout/design of the Sram stuff... Just my personal preference...

[Mapei]

All you SRAM folks. What about drivetrain noise?

[slegros]

Originally Posted by Mapei

All you SRAM folks. What about drivetrain noise?

Mine is actually quieter than a friend's Ultegra... I was surprised...

[frdfandc]

I don't notice any more noise from my 2010 Force than from my 105/Ultegra mix that was replaced.

There is a slight noise increase when using the Red Powerdome cassette as its machined from a single piece. The cone design amplifies noise more than the multi-piece style of Shimano or even the 1070 cassettes.

I rode with a customer of mine with full Red and didn't really feel that the noise was that bad. I guess you get used to it. He didn't complain at all.