Anyone tried the new shape Campag hoods yet?
- Thread starter Joe
- Start date
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HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
I've never used them; got any pics Joe?
"While the mechanical premise of the Ultra-Shift levers is the same, the geometry and ergonomics has been completely redesigned. The shape of the lever bodies is asymmetric to provide multiple hand positions when riding on the hoods. It also suggests that the inward hooking tops can be used as aerodynamic aids on the flats. Brake lever actuation has been improved from the hoods as well, as Campagnolo has recognized that this is where riders spend most of their time. This is achieved through the double curve of the lever and the repositioning of the lever's pivot. Because of the lever's new shape, it offers more room on the underside of the hood for a rider’s fingers, yet a closer position for brake lever when reaching from the drops. While reach adjustment isn’t mechanical, Campagnolo will offer a shim that increases the space between the lever and the bar by 8 percent.
The hoods themselves offer a 15 percent larger contact patch and dual-density rubber in the hoods. The contact area differs for the palm and fingers. The palm rests in a softer rubber, while the fingers have a firmer rubber for better grip. Campagnolo claims the rubber used is non-allergic and UV resistant and has better elastic memory than previous versions. The final part of the ergonomic story of the new levers is new routing for the cables, to reduce their bulge under the handlebar tape."
Intriguing. I'm tempted to stick with what I know though!
Smokin Joe
Squire
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
Apparantly the redesigned levers allow you to apply full breaking force with your fingers on only the top part of the lever, which sounds quite handy.
Fecking ugly though.
Fecking ugly though.
girofan
New Member
- Location
- Oswestry Shropshire
Smokin Joe said:
Not as ugly as current Shimano with the cables sticking out of side of the lever.
Well I've got a set of Veloce if anyones interested...
I've fitted them but not yet ridden them. Also, the levers are not running with matching kit. I'm using 08 Xenon rear mech, 105 front mech/cranks, veloce chain and Mirage cassette.
Some initial thoughts:
-They are a fair bit bigger and seriously quite ugly!
-You can fit three fingers (just about) under the hood instead of two.
-The hood rubber is more grippy and feels more "fitted" to your hand.
-09 Veloce is more like 08 Mirage with a plastic inner lever. Feels quite cheap to be honest though I'm sure the higher end stuff it nice.
-Being able to shift down multiple cogs is cool and the front mech is easier to set up. Though this was available in higher end 07/08 stuff and all earlier Campag I believe?
-The cable routing is much better as there is no lump where the gear cable enters.
-The manual is wrong or Ribble sent me the wrong cables, possibly both! The manual says to insert the end of the gear cable outer with the end cap into the shifter. Theres no way it can fit. Without the cap it fits, just about. The cables I was sent appear to be the exact same size as the ones that came with my 08 shifters, and I was under the impression (though I'm not sure where I heard it!) that the 09 ones were thinner.
-Shifting into bigger cogs requires less effort. But also feels a bit mushy and less clunky - really not keen on this! Though I'll have to try it out on the road...
-You need a torx key for the shifter clamp.
Will let you know how they are to ride soon.
It may just be a fear of change but my initial thought is that I should buy up some higher end '08 shifters!
I've fitted them but not yet ridden them. Also, the levers are not running with matching kit. I'm using 08 Xenon rear mech, 105 front mech/cranks, veloce chain and Mirage cassette.
Some initial thoughts:
-They are a fair bit bigger and seriously quite ugly!
-You can fit three fingers (just about) under the hood instead of two.
-The hood rubber is more grippy and feels more "fitted" to your hand.
-09 Veloce is more like 08 Mirage with a plastic inner lever. Feels quite cheap to be honest though I'm sure the higher end stuff it nice.
-Being able to shift down multiple cogs is cool and the front mech is easier to set up. Though this was available in higher end 07/08 stuff and all earlier Campag I believe?
-The cable routing is much better as there is no lump where the gear cable enters.
-The manual is wrong or Ribble sent me the wrong cables, possibly both! The manual says to insert the end of the gear cable outer with the end cap into the shifter. Theres no way it can fit. Without the cap it fits, just about. The cables I was sent appear to be the exact same size as the ones that came with my 08 shifters, and I was under the impression (though I'm not sure where I heard it!) that the 09 ones were thinner.
-Shifting into bigger cogs requires less effort. But also feels a bit mushy and less clunky - really not keen on this! Though I'll have to try it out on the road...
-You need a torx key for the shifter clamp.
Will let you know how they are to ride soon.
It may just be a fear of change but my initial thought is that I should buy up some higher end '08 shifters!
Baggy
Cake connoisseur
- Location
- Where the chevrons are
They aren't attractive, are they? Is the reach to the end of the hoods longer? My '05 Veloce levers will shift down 3 cogs at a time, I might have to go and panic buy some older levers now on the offchance that mine ever go wrong!
Aperitif
Meme bar
- Location
- ...I don't have much idea - really.
Interesting Joe - nice report with photos - thanks.
(Nice IKEA venetian BTW...
)
(Nice IKEA venetian BTW...
)
Amanda P
Legendary Member
- Location
- York. Well, York-ish...
Yeuch.
Sorry, but...
yeuch.
Sorry, but...
yeuch.
Well I've been out for a quick ride and in my opinion...if you're a campag fan don't upgrade!!
Ergonomically they are not too bad. I would say that the slightly bigger hood makes for an improvement when climbing (standing) in the hoods. Though this would be less noticable if you run bars with a flatter transition than me.
The lump at the top for getting areo is probably useful if you have your hood tops perfectly level but if, like me, you angle them slightly towards you then it's pretty useless and gets in the way.
The worst thing though is the shifting!
In making the shifting to bigger cogs lighter (as it always strained our fingers!) they seem to have removed practically all feedback from the lever. The click between gears is almost inaudible and changing has lost all its reasuring clunkiness. It feels like a friction shifter! The Xenons I had in the past felt nicer!
Downshifting is fine and front shifting is fine. Upshifting at the back is just wrong though imo, and I can only think/hope that they have a "red" version in the works.
Not impressed. Will definitely be switching back when my old style shifters have been repaired or replaced.
Ergonomically they are not too bad. I would say that the slightly bigger hood makes for an improvement when climbing (standing) in the hoods. Though this would be less noticable if you run bars with a flatter transition than me.
The lump at the top for getting areo is probably useful if you have your hood tops perfectly level but if, like me, you angle them slightly towards you then it's pretty useless and gets in the way.
The worst thing though is the shifting!
In making the shifting to bigger cogs lighter (as it always strained our fingers!) they seem to have removed practically all feedback from the lever. The click between gears is almost inaudible and changing has lost all its reasuring clunkiness. It feels like a friction shifter! The Xenons I had in the past felt nicer!Downshifting is fine and front shifting is fine. Upshifting at the back is just wrong though imo, and I can only think/hope that they have a "red" version in the works.
Not impressed. Will definitely be switching back when my old style shifters have been repaired or replaced.
Smokin Joe
Squire
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
I can see what you mean, but in use doesn't cause any problems even in the long term. The curve in the inner cable is not actually that sharp, the outer which only comes from just under the hood has no bend at all.bonj said:
Lardyboy
New Member
- Location
- Still Somewhere In Wales.
I've been thinking about upgrading one my Veloce groupsets for a while now. Thought I'd wait to see what the new ones would be like.
Well I don't like 'em. Just don't feel right. I have to agree with Joe concerning how you have placed the Ergos. Like him I have them angled up slightly and the feel is not as good as the old ones.
So I shopped around and found Merlin Cycles were selling 08 Record "cheap" and couldn't resist!
Well I don't like 'em. Just don't feel right. I have to agree with Joe concerning how you have placed the Ergos. Like him I have them angled up slightly and the feel is not as good as the old ones.
So I shopped around and found Merlin Cycles were selling 08 Record "cheap" and couldn't resist!
