Hello! Apologies for the long post - I have seen forum members answer quite tricky Campagnolo questions While I am waiting for an European bike shop to find me a NOS Dedacciai carbon frame with BSA (wow, do they even exist?), I need to decide how to source components. I have Record 10 Ultra shifters, and two alloy Chorus 10 medium cage RDs, and a Veloce 13-29 cassette, so I figured out a 10-speed build would be the best in terms of price/performance. And I can buy a set of NOS Chorus 10 Carbon shifters for 210 EUR, for spares. I have another bike with Chorus 9/10 mix, so eventually, I could save all the spares I own for it.
Why do I need to use the forum then? Well... In my city, LBS are incredibly rude and would make me beg for even simple repairs - I have been denied some. I had been scream at in 3 shops, because I refuse to buy Asian junk (yuck). One even insisted I sell my high-end Italian bike with Chorus, for a no-name Asian frame with Claris, because..."it shifts much better". Having no real time how to learn to do it myself, I try to keep the things simple. For example, on my other bike, a few shops failed to adjust my Chorus 10 CT FD, and the chain would fly from the outside of the carbon cranks and rub - what a disaster... Then, after spending countless hours, I read that one must lower the FD, and voila - it works.
Long story short...I am a bit hesitant should I go for 10 or 11 speed. While one can find great prices for Potenza, the complaints about how difficult and frequent it is to adjust, and the long lever throw, and the slower shifting kind of put me off. LBS say they service UT cranks easily, even without the original tools, and they use 3rd party chain links to join Campagnolo 10/11 chains. THEY STRONGLY RECOMMEND I STAY WITH 10, AS IT IS EASIER TO ADJUST AND STAY PERFECT. This tells me they are not very good...But within 100 km, no other bike shops.
I have not yet chosen a chainring combination. I think Square taper is easier to service in most cases, and requires less special tools. I found a 52/39 Record square taper crankset, I believe it is from 2008, for about 115 EUR delivered. My other options are new, alu square tapers from Miche (CPT, Race, Graff), but I hate the 16t jumps between chainrings. LBS has a coach who claims 39/29 is very low even for 18% grades (but he is 65 kg and I am 95 kg), so he insists on a standart crank. While 46/30 Graff is tempting, I might need a triple FD, right? There are affordable Campagnolo Cx 10/11 Power-torque models, but they require tools... So, for a start, looking at those photos, do you think this crankset is in good condition, should I go for it? It took me days to browse thousands of different websites, and my options are down to what I described in the thread. Please, see the photos...
Funny enough, for the same amout of money as the used square taper Record CT, I can buy a new Centaur Carbon Ultra Torque, but 53/39 (FC9-CE240C). Decisions, decisions... I am a slow, fat cyclist so I won`t feel a difference in stiffness. But how about BB and chainline difference between Record and Centaur cranksets then? After all, I have Record 10 carbon shifters. A brand new Record UT costs twice the price of new Centaur UT...