A couple of Campagnolo gear questions

[ColinJ]

I have a 10 speed Campagnolo Chorus groupset on my Cannondale. I have an old-fashioned square-taper b/b with a 53/39 double chainset, and I use a 13-29 cassette.

I have been fit enough in the past to get up 20% climbs on the 39/29 bottom gear, but it always felt like a grind, and I sometimes encounter 25% round here which always felt too hard.

Post-DVT, I have damaged veins in my left leg which balloon up under pressure, so suggestions that I 'man up' will be ignored! I need to spin rather than grind.

I would therefore like lower gears but I don't like compact chainsets, so I am considering switching the bike to a triple chainset - either a 50/40/30 or a (53 or 52)/39/30.

What I would like to know is ...

• Can my 10-speed LH Campag ergopower shifter be made to work with a triple?
• Can my current front mech be made to work with a triple chainset?

If the answer to both those questions is 'yes' then presumably, I just need to buy a new b/b and the chainset itself?

 

[Steve Malkin]

I recently changed my 9 speed veloce double for a triple, and I assume your 10 speed chorus won't be much different.
You wont need to change the LH shifter, it seems all Campag shifters are both double and triple compatible, they seem to be more of a simple 'ratchet' design rather than doing the shift in a single 'click'.
I changed the front mech on mine to a triple specific one, the double and triple versions are very different in design, and I would be surprised if the standard double version would have the range of throw required for the triple, but I didn't actually try it.
As you say, you do need a wider bottom bracket to keep the chain line correct as well.

You may have fun trying to find a new triple chainset with a square taper bb fitting, they all seem to use the new 'power torque' type now.
I wanted to stick with a square taper bb to avoid having to get my bb shell 'faced' to accept the newer types.
In the end I found a NOS 2007 Campag 'racing triple' (52/42/30) crankset from gbcycles but looking on there now, they seem to have sold out of those and the only square taper one they have is an even older 9s mirage. http://www.gbcycles.co.uk/p/47129/Campagnolo-2004-Mirage-Triple-9S-Chainset

 

[Smurfy]

Less than half an hour and someone pops up who's already done it!

 

[ColinJ]

Thanks Steve.

I am watching a Centaur triple chainset on eBay as we speak! 53/42/30 with my length cranks - 175 mm. If the bids do not go silly by the weekend, I'll make an offer.

I think you could well be right about the front mech.

I was just thinking that I had forgotten the rear mech, but I measured mine and it is a medium cage so I think it can cope with the extra loose chain.

I remembered that I have a Chorus triple b/b from my old Bianchi. It seems to be in good condition and I think it is the same size I would need for the Cannondale. Bianchi used English threads, despite being Italian, so I am hoping I can just swap it in.

 

[eck]

You'll be fine with your medium cage rear mech: it's what I have with a 30/40/50 triple and 12-25 cassette.
And, as Steve said, your ergo lever will work with a triple but you'll (almost certainly) need a triple compatible front mech.

 

[dan_bo]

Wassup with a compact Col? They certainly look less agricultural than a triple on your lovely racey bikey bikes....

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

I think colin needs a lower gear and still wants to keep a reasonable top speed. Compact front mechs can only handle a certain amount of tooth difference.

 

[PpPete]

I'm not overly impressed with the triple specific Campag front mech (a Comp Triple) that was fitted as new on my best bike.
The design of the newer ones (Athena/Centaur) looks better, with a deeper inner plate (per the pics on Ribble site)
However they are horribly expensive compared to the (whisper it) Shimano offerings.
My better half's machine which uses old Veloce 10 speed Ultrashift levers paired with a 105 FD seems less prone to unshipping the chain.
The beauty of Ultrashift was the non-indexed left lever, more of a micro-ratcheting affair which is very easily "trimmed".
Sadly Ultrashift is now reserved for the top-end groups and the Powershit models aren't half as friendly.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

How about an adaptor type thing, says it turns double or compacts into triples....

http://www.specialites-ta.com/gb/plateau-alizek.html

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Or this which looks better and is available from Spa...

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s149p1141

 

[Ian H]

TA and Stronglight both make triples (still square taper, I believe) and give a better range than Campag. I have used both with Centaur.

 

[accountantpete]

Good luck with the ebay bid. - As an alternative (if it gets too expensive) you can simply get a Shimano triple with a Shimano BB using a Campy type 10spd chain.

The Campy L/H has a ratchet which takes 3 clicks to move over one ring (ie the ring spacing is not critical) and something like 9-11 clicks overall so there is no problem using a Shimano chainset.

 

[ColinJ]

It is an old ratchet-type shifter, so that should be fine.

Wassup with a compact Col? They certainly look less agricultural than a triple on your lovely racey bikey bikes....

My objections are:

• I don't like massive step from the 50 to the 34. 53 to 39 is already stretching my tolerance!
• The lowest gear I could get would be 34/29 rather 30/29. My bad leg needs all the relief it can get!
• I would have a 50/13 top gear which is not quite as high as I would like for long downhills.
• I think the compact option would cost more.

Or this which looks better and is available from Spa...

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s149p1141

I quite like the adaptor idea but the bolt spacing is different for Shimano and Campgnolo middle & outer rings. (The little rings are the same spacing - I have a non-Campag granny ring on my Basso.) If I could find a Campag-style adaptor then I would go for that and keep my nice Chorus crankset. (Some people have suggested that the crank or spider might need to be filed down to prevent fouling, in which case I would not be happy!)

 

[dan_bo]

It is an old ratchet-type shifter, so that should be fine.


My objections are:

• I don't like massive step from the 50 to the 34. 53 to 39 is already stretching my tolerance!

Fair enough.

• The lowest gear I could get would be 34/29 rather 30/29. My bad leg needs all the relief it can get!

Getcha.

..............

• I think the compact option would cost more.

Ebay is your friend. As is retrobike. I run a '89 XT chainset with 46/38 (cross) over winter and 50/36 over the summer. Total cost about 36 quid.

 

[ColinJ]

Yes, I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled On eBay.