What Happened to Campagnolo?

[cce]

They have fulcrum wheels helping prop up sales by getting onto Shimano and SRAM equipped bikes

 

[bagpuss]

Definitely made them , sponsoring professional teams in Europe and in the UK.

Holdsworth Shimnano? Does not quite have the same ring .

 

[Rapparee87]

For what it’s worth, I get the feeling that the actual demise of Campagnolo is not on the cards at this point. I can understand why some people saw them not having their kit on any bikes in the pro peloton as a death knell, but it’s easy to read too much into that, I’d say.

It would be impossible anyway to tell if they were on any pro bikes as the components look totally indistinguishable from all the other crappy carbon rubbish.... Campag used to be recognisable from any distance.. Mind you that horrible new rear derailleur must be visible even from space

 

[Frankenorange]

Cofidis use Campagnolo. At this years Giro the Cofidis bikes are sporting what appears to be the beginnings of a a future 13 speed Super Record . Might be a bit of a mix of the older 12 speed and some Ekar at present. Maybe different from bike to bike. The thumb shifter is back, too.

 

[Canuk]

This is my favourite era of Campagnolo, the group that gave us the beautiful Delta brakes, that and the silver 9 speed kit. After that, it all gets a bit undesirable...

 

[pigman]

This is my favourite era of Campagnolo, the group that gave us the beautiful Delta brakes, that and the silver 9 speed kit. After that, it all gets a bit undesirable...

in terms of looks, I'd agree. Problems were the Campag stuff was sooo heavy, the gear changes continued to be clunky and it was definitely style over substance. Contrast this to Shimano's 6400/7400 which performed so much better and was cheaper. This is the point at which the racing fraternity decided Campag wasn't the "one to have"

 

[pigman]

I assume Campag is still the default and main player in Italy and the 'latin' countries ???

If so, that's quite a large market. Reminiscent of British Leyland (quality issues and politics aside) and its home market v exports. Outside of the Uk, owning a BL car was seen as a left-field quirk, which is how Campag is now being viewed in the UK/US/Far East

 

[Canuk]

Campagnolo is still 'de facto' in Italy. We took the boat in lake Garda last year and as we were getting off the ferry an Italian cycling club were getting on, all shouty and laughing, and almost every single rider on a Colnago. There were a few De Rosa and a Cinelli but that was out of about 40 bikes. Almost everyone rolling on Campag.

A stroll round any Italian town or city will tell the same, city bikes with straight bars and dynamo lighting, and a full Gran Sport group set. It must warm the cockles of M. Campagnolo's heart.

Who cares about America anyhow!

Probably heading down the road to an inward facing permanent dictatorship. Youse have my sympathies.