Shimano/Campag compatibility....

Bluenose

Hi there,

I'm looking for some help and opinions on a dilemma I'm facing.

I have a OCR2 with a Tiagra triple group set. I'm looking at upgrading
and have recently bought a Ultegra triple crankset. My next purchases
were going to be a Dura Ace triple RD, a Ultegra triple FD and a set of
Ultegra shifters. I've done some reading of reviews and which have not
painted the Ultegra shifters in a very good light ie multiple failures,
rattling etc.

I know you can mix Campag. with Shimano components but I'm a new kid on
the bloke in regards to cycling and I'm not entirely sure of the
combo's.

I have some questions below and would appreciate your expertise.

If I were to purchase Campag. shifters then will they work with my
Ultegra triple cranks, cassette, and current Tiagra triple FD? If so
then in order for them to work I must buy a Triple/long cage Campag. RD?
Will my Ultegra chain need replacing with a Campag. chain? Do I have buy
9 speed Campag shifters and RD or can I buy a 10 speed? Finally, what's
the honest opinion regarding mixing Shimano/Campag. Is it more hassle
than it's worth? Will the different components work together smoothly or
will they require constant adjustments and fiddling around?

I look forward to your help or opinions on this topic and I apologise if
it's all been discussed before but as I've mentioned earlier I'm fairly
new to all of this.

Many thanks in advance

flyingdutch

more hassle than its worth (and Im biased towards the 'italian'). Stay
with the Sushi!

you can use campy ergos with Shimano RDs. just turning the clamping mech
on it 90degree holds the cable in just the right place

there's a relevant thread on cyclingplus.co.uk that will interest
you, perhaps

youre biggest issues are differing cable-pull and cassette-gaps-
distances

the longcage may not be necessary (and is only a couple of
differing/interchangeable parts on campag) as long as you stay away from
the small-small and big-big combos (but you knew that, right?)

All other biases aside, mixing bits on Shimano is a head-ache even in
2004 whereas post 2001 campag you can mix-match almost anything (and ALL
ergos operate both double/triple front mechs!)



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hippy

>Originally posted by suzyj I like the SRAM ones, as they >come with a
>powerlink thingy that makes removal easy.

How do you actually remove these? I looked at one once and tried to pop
it open - no luck. Out came the chain breaker...

Any hints?

hippy



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suzyj

hippy wrote:

> How do you actually remove these? I looked at one once and tried to
> pop it open - no luck. Out came the chain breaker...

> Any hints?

There's a bit of a knack to it. You grab the chain either side of the
powerlink and push the powerlink in on itself. Some WD40 or similar
helps if it's particularly grimy. The trick is to work out which side of
the chain moves which way, and apply pressure appropriately, while not
allowing the pivots to rotate.

One of those things where a quick demo is worth pages of explanation.

Regards,

Suzy



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hippy

>Originally posted by suzyj There's a bit of a knack to it. You grab the
>chain either side of >the powerlink and push the powerlink in on
>itself. Some WD40 >or similar helps if it's particularly grimy. The
>trick is to work out >which side of the chain moves which way, and
>apply pressure >appropriately, while not allowing the pivots to rotate.

I remembered how it went together so did try to squeeze it together.
Guess it's just one of those things where you need to have the 'knack'.
I'll try again one day.. unless the breaker is handy <cue evil laugh
sfx> bwahahahahaha!

cheers! hippy



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flyingdutch

hippy wrote:
> >Originally posted by suzyj I like the SRAM ones, as they >come with a
> >powerlink thingy that makes removal easy.
> How do you actually remove these? I looked at one once and tried to pop
> it open - no luck. Out came the chain breaker...
> Any hints?
> hippy



not sure if they are the same as the Connex ones for campag chains but
you just push the links together (along chainline direction) which gives
you some slack and allows you to twist them apart. easy peasey
japanesey!

JJJ



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