Campagnolo/Shimano Drive train Compatibility

Andy Huber in Virginia, USA has quite a common question to do with mixing components from different manufacturers. His is one of the easiest problems to answer and that is to do with his Campagnolo chain sets compatibility with other equipment.

Question:
I just bought a road frame with a new Campagnolo Veloce Ultra-Torque 10 speed crank set, and would like to know if Shimano or SRAM chain, cassette, shifters, derailleur’s, etc. are compatible with Campy chain rings, or would I get the best performance and service by using all Campagnolo components?
Thank you very much for your expert help
Sincerely,
Andy Huber.

Hi Andy.

This is a fairly common question and has become easier to answer recently with the invention of 10 speed equipment. With 10 speed the tolerances are so close on all the different manufacturers group sets are so similar that they do work together. You will find that SRAM seems to work with everything.

Your problem is the easiest as chain sets are all similar, the problems start when you try to mix shifters and rear mechs with cassettes. The best answer is to stay with the one manufacturer throughout, but different chain sets are not a problem.

As to the chain; as long as you are using a 10 speed chain you can use any make, but you will find some run better than others. This also goes for the cassette, if it fits the hub of your wheels, then a 10 speed cassette should work with all the different groups. When it comes to the shifters and derailleur’s its best not to mix these components as the pull on the cable at the shifter does vary from one manufacturer to the other, this is matched to the movement on the rear derailleur.

So don’t worry about using a Campagnolo chain set with other equipment, but you need to be careful how you mix the other bits and pieces. Chain and cassette should be OK, but stay with the same shifters and derailleur’s.

SRAM make a very nice set of shifters for time trial and triathlon low profile bikes and they work with other rear derailleurs. The nice thing about these shifters is that when you change gear the lever springs back up so that the lever is always at hand and not pointing down so far that it is tricky to change back up again, but then these shifters are not for every bike.

I hope that helps Andy?