Road vs MTB

[Old Gammy Leg]

There's a very good reason for that, they can't compete, and they can't make stuff that actually works when it's covered in mud. Don't get me wrong, I love Campag dearly, but it's nowhere near on price/performance.

Can't agree with you there - I'm sure if they wanted to Campy could make awesome MTB groupsets. It's just that the MTB market is dominated by Shimano, and they probably feel it's not worth their while trying to break in.

As for price/performance - IMO Dura Ace (Shimano) and Record (Campy) are completely perfect in terms of performance. Those are the top end groups. But Campy is consistently excellent on even the cheapest groups, whereas low-end Shimano stuff is nowhere near as good. Cheap and plasticky. And price? they are both about the same, or Campy is cheaper on lower end stuff! Though IMO Campy is better value - lots of carbon fibre, titanium and superior quality and engineering. Though I have to say the Shimano Dura Ace cranks look cool as fuck.

 

[Old Gammy Leg]

But you can

http://www.campagnolo.com/urbanracer.php

the 2005 range saw combined shifter / brake units for flat bars and 'direct action cantilever brakes' ie V-Brakes. They're more aimed at hybrids but they'll work on MTB's fine.

Cool.... Their new 2007 Record group is gorgeous....

 

[likesfish]

commuting got a hybred road bikes look too uncomfatabe and not much good at jumping kerbs and while you may not need 4x4 performance in a car on a bike you need fairly strong wheels around here.
also need to put a kiddy seat andpanniers on don't like drops

 

[robotsimon]

But you can

http://www.campagnolo.com/urbanracer.php

the 2005 range saw combined shifter / brake units for flat bars and 'direct action cantilever brakes' ie V-Brakes. They're more aimed at hybrids but they'll work on MTB's fine.

I wouldn't fancy using a 10 speed road derailleur off road. At least, not if there were any hills, or mud!

Campag did make mtb groupsets for about 5 years in the late 80s/early 90's - Euclid, Themis, Olympus, and Centaur. But they weren't very good.

These days, if you don't want shimano you can always drool over SRAM XO

 

[pootle]

Nobody is answering my questions today

 

[abee]

Nobody is answering my questions today

Sorry Pootle.
I ride a road bike with 23c (not far off as thin as they come) tyres.
Although I do not commute I have, since the second week of june done 1050 miles. Mostly on tarmac, some of it on canal paths (cinders) and some of it on cobbles. relatively little of it in the dark.
Most of it riding as 'flat out' as conditions (my legs) will allow.
So far - one puncture, just shy of 1000 miles and on clear tarmac.
And two wheels as true as they were when they left the shop.
Does that help?

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

I wouldn't fancy using a 10 speed road derailleur off road. At least, not if there were any hills, or mud!

Campag did make mtb groupsets for about 5 years in the late 80s/early 90's - Euclid, Themis, Olympus, and Centaur. But they weren't very good.

These days, if you don't want shimano you can always drool over SRAM XO

I use Veloce 9sp on my cross bike - gets plastered in mud and works fine.

I don't want any shimano parts on my bike - i am anti their design, engineering ethic and marketing tactics, not to mention their sweatshop labour use. As for SRAM, their road groups are hideously expensive and ugly as fuck!

 

[Orang Utan]

What's wrong with Shimano parts? Does it really matter for commuters? Is this like hi-fi buffs arguing about components?

 

[Orang Utan]

Nobody is answering my questions today

Nor mine

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

What's wrong with Shimano parts? Does it really matter for commuters? Is this like hi-fi buffs arguing about components?

yes, a bit. You're either a campag man or a shimano man. One of the worst things in the world is seeing someone stick shimano on a handbuilt Italian racer...fucking travesty.

It works fine I'm sure but its ugly.

 

[CharlieAddict]

What's wrong with Shimano parts? Does it really matter for commuters? Is this like hi-fi buffs arguing about components?

nothing wrong with shimano parts.

most riders are communters -not commuters/racers.

out of curiousity, who here wears the full lycra outfit?

 

[ICB]

What's wrong with Shimano parts?

For some people it's like MS vs Linux or Mac

Can't agree with you there - I'm sure if they wanted to Campy could make awesome MTB groupsets. It's just that the MTB market is dominated by Shimano, and they probably feel it's not worth their while trying to break in.

As for price/performance - IMO Dura Ace (Shimano) and Record (Campy) are completely perfect in terms of performance. Those are the top end groups. But Campy is consistently excellent on even the cheapest groups, whereas low-end Shimano stuff is nowhere near as good. Cheap and plasticky. And price? they are both about the same, or Campy is cheaper on lower end stuff! Though IMO Campy is better value - lots of carbon fibre, titanium and superior quality and engineering. Though I have to say the Shimano Dura Ace cranks look cool as fuck.

TBF I've no experience of the current road gruppos but the Shimano off-road groupsets are excellent down to the low-mid-range Deore

What's this Dura Ace thing of which you speak?

I guess Campag and Shimano have both done well carving out solid positions in their respective market and don't want to cause an all-out war by pushing too hard into the other's.

 

[Orang Utan]

For some people it's like MS vs Linux or Mac

I've never known what Linux is nor have I ever been curious enough to ask

 

[robotsimon]

What's wrong with Shimano parts? Does it really matter for commuters? Is this like hi-fi buffs arguing about components?

Exactly that, it's basically snobbery. But in a good way! The shimano/campag thing gives roadies something to talk about.

Personally, I really rate shimano kit but I'll use whatever I think represents good performance and value. I've got an shimano xt drivetrain and avid brakes on my mountain bike and a shimano deore/lx group on my road/cross bike. It all works fine.

 

[fredfelt]

Exactly that, it's basically snobbery. But in a good way! The shimano/campag thing gives roadies something to talk about.

Personally, I really rate shimano kit but I'll use whatever I think represents good performance and value. I've got an shimano xt drivetrain and avid brakes on my mountain bike and a shimano deore/lx group on my road/cross bike. It all works fine.

I always had problems with changing my front cog until I got rid of my Shimano Deore shifter.

 

[soulman]

Voted mountain bike because that's what I have now and it's fine for me off or on road. It's a lot more versatile than the road bike I used to have, handles better and feels safer. Not really in to speed or staring at tarmac any more.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Voted mountain bike because that's what I have now and it's fine for me off or on road. It's a lot more versatile than the road bike I used to have, handles better and feels safer. Not really in to speed or staring at tarmac any more.

But that's the best bit! Gliding round a sweeping bend at stupid speeds, leaning into a turn, I love it.

 

[Termite Man]

Road bikes are much cooler.. they're all sleek and sexy and really fucking fast and you can whip the mountain bike riders on the way to work.

Can't you just put road tyres on the mountain bike and then be super fast as well . And considering I've been cycling to work for the grand total of 4 days I'm allready faster than most the twatty road bike ( and mountain bike users ) as well , maybe your faster because your just super amazing Chris

 

[ChrisFilter]

Can't you just put road tyres on the mountain bike and then be super fast as well .

Nope.. heavier frame, gearing is mis-configured for road use, body position isn't conducive to speed, etc, etc.

 

[fredfelt]

Nope.. heavier frame, gearing is mis-configured for road use, body position isn't conducive to speed, etc, etc.

I rode from Oxford to Scotland on my steel frame mountain bike with road tyres.

I also like my road bike but don't knock the moutain bike for its all purpose abilities. Road bike would not carry tent and all my kit for the ride.

 

[ChrisFilter]

I rode from Oxford to Scotland on my steel frame mountain bike with road tyres.

I also like my road bike but don't knock the moutain bike for its all purpose abilities. Road bike would not carry tent and all my kit for the ride.

I'm cycling 500 miles of the Danube on my racer next week! Got 70 litres worth of panniers on it, and it rides fine!

I'm not knocking them, just answering Savage Henry's question about why racers are faster.. showing why it's not just a matter of tyres.

 

[mauvais]

I couldn't do without a mountain bike. Most of the 600+ miles I've done so far have been off road. It's not too slow - can easily do 25-30mph on it, although obviously a road bike would be faster. The gearing is a bit off though; there comes a point where you need a higher gear if you're going to get any more out of it.

As for suspension, I ride a hardtail. You can lock out the front suspension quite successfully which negates any complaints there and the stuff I carry renders any weight difference less significant. Plus it's easier to ride and less easy to fall off!

 

[brixtonvilla]

And considering I've been cycling to work for the grand total of 4 days I'm allready faster than most the twatty road bike ( and mountain bike users ) as well

So you've been riding for 4 days, and you're bragging that you're faster than most other cyclists on the road? Don't take this the wrong way, but I wonder if you may discover (in a rather abrupt fashion) why they aren't caning it as fast as you. There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots...

 

[Termite Man]

So you've been riding for 4 days, and you're bragging that you're faster than most other cyclists on the road? Don't take this the wrong way, but I wonder if you may discover (in a rather abrupt fashion) why they aren't caning it as fast as you. There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots...

It's probably more to do with their hardly being any one about when I'm going to work actually But if Chris is talking about going faster on his bike then surely from your response you have to agree that it isn't the bike that is faster is the how the bike is ridden and how fast the rider is able to make it go !

 

[ChrisFilter]

That's just stupid SH.. you reckon you get the two best cyclists in the world, one has a multi-thousand pound carbon fibre power fuck road bike, and one has a battered ebay mountain and they'd still finish equal?

Of course the cyclist is the one that powers the bike, but cyclists being equal, the type and quality of the bike makes a massive difference.

 

[nadia]

My mountain bike has had it, but for wheeling about town its definitely preferrable to my road bike (well sometimes). Don't get out on it as much as I woudl like though

 

[sir.clip]

Bmx.