Campagnolo goes 11-speed

Super Record is back

11-speed for top three groupsets

For 2009 Campagnolo is going 11-speed, and reintroducing Super Record, a name previously lost to the history books. Along with Record and Chorus, the Italian company has completely redesigned the groupsets it describes as “intended and designed for competition.”

Super Record, as well as a suitably sky-high price tag; will get ceramic bearings throughout and additional titanium hardware to minimise the overall weight as much as possible. But each groupset shares the same 11-speed treatment.

The new 11-speed cassettes are reported to be the same width as current 10-speed blocks, so backwards compatibility with existing wheels should be possible. Record gains three ti sprockets and six for Super Record, and 11-23, 11-25, 12-25, 12-27 ratios will be available. The obvious drawback to squeezing more cogs into the cassette is that a narrow chain is required. The new chain is a scant 5.5mm wide (down from 5.9mm previously), but Campag are keen to stress that a new steel has increased strength by 20%. Hollow pins further the weight loss on Record and Super Record.

Ergopower Ultra ushers in a new and improved hood shape to improve ergonomics. New Vari-Cushion hoods use a softer rubber with support zones for better comfort. The carbon fibre brake lever loses a bit of weight too, and Super Record gains additional weight savings due to internal titanium hardware.

The rear derailleur has also been redesigned, with a “3G geometry” increasing rigidity for more positive shifting, and an oversize carbon front plate is said to improve stiffness. Titanium bolts feature on Super Record for maximum weight savings. The front derailleur has too been redesigned, being made stiffer and new anti-friction treatment to enable effortless shifts.

Campag says: “11-speed doesn't mean just a smaller sprocket to streak ahead downhill or a larger one for the toughest climbs: it is a new concept of groupset, completely reengineered in order to raise the level of performance. The 11 speed groupset have an higher level of efficiency, precision and quality of rear derailleur shifting and front derailleur shifting than the previous version 10s.”

www.11speedonly.com

See also
Alessandro Ballan's 11 speed Wilier
Cadel Evans 11 speed Ridley