London Fixed-gear and Single-speed SJS Cycles

Campagnolo has reintroduced the super record grouppo as an 11spd!

Why? (waaaaaay off topic)
Campag says: "Why not?"

and it's only going to be around £1600 for the groupset

I won't be tempted.
Mind you, I said that about nine-speed...
and ten-speed...
:-(

same as razors. started at 1 blade now upto 5 blades. and still gives the same cut.
i like my razors like a like my bikes. 1 gear thanks.

"The new chain is now just 5.5mm wide – 0.4mm narrower than 10-speed ... 20% stronger than before through the use of special steel alloys ... links have been redesigned in order to interact with the sprockets more effectively for both smoother running and more precise shifting."
I think component designers wouldn't have much to do wthout these constant innovations.

Yea, but you'd think the designers would be too busy out riding their fixies or at least talking about them on an internet forum!

I like my women like I like my whisky - 15 years old and full of coke...

I read about this and a theory behind the 11 speed was largely marketing and the reintroduction of S.R was purely as a cash cow for the bling crowd.

Much like ceramic bearings it's down to marketing.

I like the fact that in the article it says

"the 11-speed system somehow managed to work even better than the old 10-speed (really!),"

Well the fact that it works better is not because it is 11 speed but because it has had improved design & engineering. It the same improved design was put onto 10 speed the improvement may be even greater. The problem with that is that (improving 10 speed) people can upgrade bits of their drive chain at a time rather than being force to upgrade every thing due to incompatibility issues.

How many gears can one bike need? 11 seems excessive.

^ heheh - the point about the number of blades on a razor does ring true.. I thought 9-speed was enough?
Are you more unhappy about the resurrection of the Super Record name or the 11 speediness?

Yeah, but you only use one at a time...

...so down at campag design studio...

"hey marco, i gotta an idea..."

I was chatting to the guy at Shimano who designes the LX mtb groupset (the company i work for has a contract to teach Shimano! rather cool), and his main job just seemed to be finding ways of using the technology from the year befores XT stuff, into something a bit cheaper to produce.

As you say, gear technology is rather limited in terms on progression

shimano's been doing that for years. normally it invloves changing the asthetic look of the thing and adding a bit more weight (normally in the form of a heavier spring). hence i never run anything higher up the chain then LX on a geared bike. xt is for posers and xtr is for rich posers.

Shimano? For posers?
Bollocks. We run Campag.
;-)

fair point was thinking more MTB posers my bad.

man I remember a time when 7 speeds was enough and 8 speeds were an idea of an idiot.

Mike Burrows remarks on marketing and cycling ring particularly true here.

"These gears go to 11..."

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

tsss... i think they should now move on to designing a quad front derailleur. with the slimmer chain that should work.

Me too, but TBH the figures were more like five and six for me... ;-(

One design feature I don't understand that is not implemented in the cycling world (more relevant for touring and mbt) is the asymmetric rear triangle. Helps to reduce or remove the biggest problem in rear wheels (being dishing and the associated strength issues). Something simple and easy to build into bikes but just not done. Instead assorts of other more complicated solutions are used such as funky spoke e.t.c

heck. they should work on this again! Shimano Airlines!

That'll never fly...

gas assisted downhill mtb rear derailers... how that got through the cracks ill never know

that stuff was great. you'd be out for a nice days ride and "sorry guys i've gotta stop and pump my gears up"

Mavic mektronic anyone?

Shimano are doing a electronic dura ace as well.

A bit of both really.

But the number of gears will forever increase so not really that bothered. But really, be original and call it something else, super duper record? Incredi-record? finger cramp record? Is there going to be a new C-record and a new Croce D'Aune? It's all gonna get a bit confusing.

I'm still waiting for them to bring back Delta brakes.

i'm waiting for them to bring back intigrated headsets

oh wait... they did

what about steel frames?

campy bring out their electronic gears soon formula one style paddle shifters and battery power what on earth will they think of next bikes that don't even need a rider to make them go
soon us riders will be redundant

0.4mm narrower chain effects all the parts in its line, it drives sales. its like selling HD TV's, people upgrade all the peripherals and onwards... shit as Tommy said..

Those who really benefit would get it for free all others pay for it..

But ceramic bearings. thats an interesting one. and if you dislike the super record re-use you got to let these guys have something for Ceramic Ultimate Level Technology... CULT
I wonder how many times they tried New Technology before it got stopped at marketing???

Campagnolo Super Record, coming soon to a fat accountant on a Colnago near you.

Campag Change The Record

I'm not fat!

On the plus side watch for the now obsolete and obviously crap Record and Dura Ace groupsets being dumped by the upgraders.

for a second I thought it said 'ejaculation system' at the top of the chain ring!

I'm 40 next year and have been saving for some time to buy a new road bike that will likely have Record on it. Does this mean I've got to pile on weight and switch careers to accountancy?

No need for 11 speed. I am fine on 8speed, i just miss that top end speed when powering along. I end up spinning at 32mph.
Would cost too much to keep replacing the chain after just over a month aswell.
Its a poser thing, no need for it.

Why?

Because Shimano are bringing out 11spd. Gotta keep up.
Same as they both have elec. shifting systems in test again.
Marketing bollocks.. but it IS how they make money.

my colnago from '79 has five cogs at the back, but it's close ratio so feels kind of ok.

very different compared to my campag 10 speed, but it's totally cool.

front is 53:42, the rear is a 14:20 with pretty much straight tooth jumps to maintain cadence.

that means the granny gear is a 55", for my condor it's 41". that's a HUGE difference. shows how much things have changed. and people expressed surprise when i ascended ventoux on 39:25!