Campagnolo Gets Adventurous and Electric in Girona
12-speed cassettes expand their range, and probably yours, too
12-speed cassettes expand their range, and probably yours, too
The sun was shining brightly, searing tan lines onto my sundeprived Canadian skin. My jacket and tights were in my hotel room thanks to unseasonably gorgeous weather. I was following the wheel of a pro on a popular training climb just outside of Girona, Catalunya. In the moment, I felt a bit like a pro. I was aboard a Movistar team-issue Canyon Ultimate CF slx and my hands were on the new Campagnolo Super Record eps 12-speed shifters. As the electric derailleur clicked down a few gears, I was exposed slowly for what I truly am, an amateur who was caught up in an all-too-perfect moment. I was in Girona to see Campagnolo’s latest groupsets. The beautiful, old city with its expat pro population and incredible riding was a well-chosen location, especially since the temperatures in February were so perfect. It was only a matter of time before Campagnolo made its 12-speed groupsets electronic, as well as more accessible. The wide-range cassette made its debut in April 2018 in the mechanical Super Record and Record sets. Now, the top-of-the-line Super Record eps has 12 cogs, as does Chorus, the third-tier mechanical group.
While the roads were new to me, the Super Record eps shifters were familiar. They have the same shape as the mechanical versions and felt just right in my hands. The news eps junction box can be housed in a bar end, beneath the stem or in the down tube on certain bike models. The mode button is behind the thumb shift lever on both the left and right sides. For more in-depth customization of the gruppo’s performance, there is the Mycampy app. Also new is the battery, which is slimmer but a little longer than the previous version. It boasts a battery life that is 10 per cent longer.
This is the groupset that made me feel, briefly, like I could keep up with Carlos Barbero (10th at Kuurne – Brussels – Kuurne, 12th at Ghent-wevelgem) during a progression interval. The electronic shifts I was frantically performing while trying to keep up with the Movistar rider are achieved with the help of powerful motors in the derailleurs that worked well even under load. Each shift has the always-satisfying clunk that is so appreciated by long-time Campy users. My only complaint was that feedback on the levers was a little subtle. Another Ghent-wevelgem Campy connection was the Bora wto wheels. In March, Alexander Kristoff won that race on those hoops. In Girona, Campagnolo announced that it would be adding a 45-mm rim depth to that line, which includes 77 and 60 mm.
Arguably, the bigger news out of Girona was the updates coming to the 12-speed Chorus groupset. Esthetically, the third-tier gruppo looks much like the mechanical 12-speed Record and Super Record components above it. Chorus, however, has less carbon and titanium in its line. It does have an ultra-wide cassette option:
“This is the groupset that made me feel, briefly, like I could keep up with Carlos Barbero.”
11–34 tooth. Surprisingly for a traditional Italian manufacturer, Campy will offer an ultra-compact 48/32-tooth Chorus chainring. The company stayed cagey about who this component was designed for, but anyone building a gravel or adventure bike will find these new gearing options paired with the excellent disc brakes very enticing.
For scrubbing speed, both the eps and Chorus have the same hydraulic components that have received a slight update across the company’s lines. “Why compromise on something so important,” press manager Joshua Riddle said. There’s the choice of either 160-mm or 140-mm diameter rotors front and rear now. The brake pads have also received a minor update with a new organic resin that is just as sharp and responsive as the previous version, but should last longer. The magnetic springs are now aided by mechanical ones for quicker pad return. On the descents, I no longer held onto the idea that I could stick with Barbero, so I made ample use of Campagnolo’s disc brakes before the sweeping turns. The brakes feel like the most dialed hydraulic road discs of any of the major groupset manufacturers with no play in the lever and excellent modulation.
Once at the top of the climb, as I regained my composure from the effort, I noticed a narrow, rough gravel path off of the road we came up. A couple of them actually tempted me throughout the day. On a top-end race bike, I would be hesitant to turn down such a route. Still, I couldn’t help but think that with more versatile gearing options and disc brakes, Campagnolo is finally encouraging us to follow those roads less travelled. It’s not all about racing anymore. After all, I’m no pro and getting onto the quick technical trails has a certain appeal, even in the road cycling paradise that is Girona.