Nick’s Group Sets Questions Part 2, Campagnolo Record vs Shimano Dura-Ace

Nick asked us all about the new SRAM Force group sets and was also thinking about Campagnolo Record, this has opened a whole new (or old argument) tin of worms that we need to get our teeth into

Question: so is Record better than Dura Ace-and what about those carbon cranks -still sure it would not have been better to have gone for the new carbon ones?

Hi Nick again,
So have you looked at the SRAM and what did you think? I guess if you’re now asking about Shimano and Campagnolo Record you have decided against it.

Shimano or Campagnolo, the old argument, they are very different, chalk and cheese, apples and oranges etc. the feel and the designs are different, I prefer the feel of the Campagnolo brake/gear levers.

I’ve always found them too big for my hands and I feel the weight of the gear change is forward on the handle bar and as I’ve said before I like the progressive feel of the Campag brakes.

The gears also have a different feel, you like one or the other, they work differently and is a personal choice.

OK, about the chain set, I didn’t get the Campagnolo Record carbon cranks because I had heard they were bring out the new 2007 cranks and bottom bracket sets, so thought I’d stay on the alloy until I replaced them with the carbon. I have now seen the new set and am not sure about the bottom bracket that slots together with the axle split in the middle, but it’s still something I would spend my money on.

The Shimano Dura-Ace cranks on the other hand I don’t like, it’s a personal thing, they just look too bulky for me.

I hope I’ve helped you decide on your group set, or maybe you just don’t know what to do? This is a great problem to have; my next question is what wheels are you looking at, just to start another discussion!