July 2, 2008--The official Campagnolo web site was updated today with a link to info on the 11-speed gruppo.  See it at www.campagnolo.com 

July 1, 2008--The folks over at VeloNews.com have a nice article on the features of the 2009 Record and Chorus gruppos:  Click here

June 22, 2008--What's up with ErgoBrain?  Close inspection of the new "Super Record" Ergo lever hoods seems to show that the buttons to operate Campagnolo's integrated computer aren't there, which leads us to believe the ErgoBrain can't count to 11.  We'll know for sure when the new catalog hits the streets.

June 20, 2009--Here's a photo of the inside of the hall (shown in the photo in our June 18 entry) at the unveiling of the 2009 lineup.  Visible in the front row are Valentino Campagnolo, Eddy Merckx, and Miguel Indurain.

June 19, 2008--Reader Henri Karam Cruz has created a YouTube video from images of the new 2009 gruppos!  Check it out at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlFAMtFI1RI 

June 18, 2008--Thanks to our readers, we've been flooded with info on the new 2009 gruppos.  Here are photos, news, and links. Among the tidbits of info for 2009: 
Good News: Three 11-speed gruppos: Chorus, Record and Super Record. (Two gruppos--Centaur and Veloce--will come in 10-speed)
Ceramic bearings in Record and Super Record
Shamal wheels will feature a "2-way fit," allowing the use of tubeless and clincher tires on the same rims
11 speed come with a  4-year warranty
Bad News: Campagnolo is dumbing down Record and Chorus rather than making Super Record a super version of 2008 Record.  The Record rear mech has lost its Ti bolts; the Chorus brakes have lost their hidden pivot design and their bearings
Photos (left to right): "Raising the Level" banners; Record ergo lever, Chorus ergo lever, 11-speed cassette; Record crankset, Record 11-speed rear derailleur.

Links:
Guidorubino.com
Fiets.nl
Rouesartisenales.com

June 11, 2008-- ... and still more news about the new levers, this time here: http://rouesartisanales.over-blog.com/article-20354308.html
The article cites a Bianchi catalog with bikes outfitted with the new stuff.

June 11, 2008--CyclingNews.com reports that the 2009 gruppos will include a new, more "curvaceous" design for the Ergo levers:  http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2008/features/rumors_milled_jun08 
Check out the page above for photos ... and note that we reported on the new Ergo shape back in May ...

May 25, 2008--First rumors about 2009:
--"Super Record" will return as an 11-speed gruppo.  A narrower chain will let the system work with existing wheels.  In addition to shifting on an 11-speed cassette, the Ergo levers will look different from current models.  Look for limited availability in September, with more stock coming in October.
--Some wheels will be updated with ceramic bearings and tubular rims
--Some new gruppos may be added (the first in several years)
--Electronic shifting continues to be refined, but don't look for it in your bike shop next year.
Email us if you have any info to add!

April 24, 2008--Just under two months after the departure of Richard Storino, Campagnolo North America has a new General Manager: Tom Kattus.  Click here to read Campagnolo's official press release.
So ... who is Tom Kattus?  A Google search turns up a few links, among them this one, which apparently shows his previous employer, a San Diego-area clothing manaufacturer.  You can also see how he did in a 2004 triathlon.  Mr. Kattus also worked previously for Cannondale.
We here at Campy Only also note this comment from the folks at Slowtwitch.com:
"Did the Italian component icon intend to project a more helpful and friendly corporate face when it chose its new U.S. General Manager? Campagnolo NA's president, Angelo Caccia, specifically cited Kattus' "reputation in the industry, and his excellent attitude, demeanor and integrity." So, perhaps it did.
What will this mean for Campagnolo's penetration in triathlon? Campy can't have postured itself worse in multisport than it has over the past two decades, at least in North America. Kattus ties to multisport, and his easy demeanor, at least allow for a door into triathlon through which Campy might enter. But with SRAM's powerful set of multisport-friendly component options and robust stable of pro triathletes, as well as Shimano's established hegemony in this sport, Kattus will have his work cut out for him."
Slowtwitch also notes that Campagnolo has, "a reputation in the U.S. for making exceptional products, backed by a less-helpful approach to issues like delivery, warranty, and ease of use by OEMs."
So why are we using precious bandwidth to make note of Slowtwitch's comments? First of all, because in our opinion they are right on. And, because we were castigated recently by an acquaintance of Mr. Storino's who felt that when Campy Only said the same things about the former General Manager that we were unfair and wrong. Maybe we weren't--at least we're not the only ones who see room for improvement in Campagnolo's North American operations.
Open note to Tom Kattus:  We'd love to talk.  Send us an email and let's exchange phone numbers.

April 23, 2008--New photos of the coming Record Electronic gruppo, this time captured at a race by a Danish web site. Thanks to a sharp-eyed reader for sending these to us.

April 16, 2008--Quick bit of Campy-related trivia ... Did you know that film actress Amy Adams (currently appearing in "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day") was born in Vicenza?  Now you do. More about Amy: http://amy-adams.org/ 

April 13, 2008--Richard Sachs is now the subject of a documentary.  "Imperfection is Perfection" follows Richard as we works in his shop, and explores the mind of the legendary craftsman as he creates industrial art.  Read about it and order it here:  http://www.richardsachs.com/dvd.html See a sample here: http://www.deshorsfieldvideo.com/ 

April 13, 2004--Read more about the continuing saga of Tim Brockett (the founder of Branford Bike) as he rebuilds after the devastating fire that claimed his home and business in Montana:  http://timslife.com/shop/shop.html 

March 24, 2008--Looks like Campagnolo heard from fans (like us) who asked why it was only the pros who would get to use their new "Red" gruppo (see our December rumor).  The Red gruppo features stronger springs that make the levers feel more like they used to before Campagnolo started weakening the springs for a "lighter" action.  We have heard from fans who complain that the new, weaker springs also wear out faster ...  Kudos to Campagnolo for bringing back the stronger springs in a limited edition of gruppos for consumers (remember "New Coke"?)

March 24, 2008--Your local bike shop's ability to stock Campagnolo just got easier. Bicycle Technologies International, a major wholesaler of bicycling-related equipment, has added Campagnolo to its product lineup.  Check it out at www.bti-usa.com ... but don't expect to see prices, since they don't sell retail to the public.

March 7, 2009--Our 2009 project, "Wheels North," will soon be available as a T-Shirt.  Check back at the Wheels North web site for ordering info.  Proceeds from the sale of shirts will benefit the Histiocytosis Association of America.

February 28, 2008--Industry sources report that Richard Storino, longtime head of Campagnolo's USA operation, has left the company.  Storino had worked for Campagnolo for 23 years, rising to the position of General Manager of Campagnlo North America.  Storino's position is being filled on an interim basis by Giada Casarotto, who is also in charge of Campagnolo's Fulcrum brand.  

January 17, 2008--Lest we forget: 2008 is the 75th Anniversary of the founding of Campagnolo in 1933!

January 17, 2008--Campagnolo has announced that it will sponsor seven Pro-Tour and nine continental teams. From the company's official press release:
"In the 2008 season Campagnolo will still be the technical sponsor of the World Champion, Paolo Bettini, and of his Quick-Step team-mates as well as of other titles Pro-Tour teams: Bouygues Telecom, Caisse d’Epargne, Cofidis, Lampre-Fondital, Liquigas and Predictor Lotto.

Campagnolo will also supply material to nine Continental teams: Acqua & Sapone, Aisan Racing Team, BMC USA, G.S. CSF Group Navigare, G.S. Tinkoff, Jelly Belly, LPR, Nippo, and Topsport-Vlaanderen."
Campagnolo will provide Record gruppos to all of these teams.  The company will also provide wheels to three teams: ouygues Telecom, Caisse d’Epargne and Predictor-Lotto.  Read more here

January 17, 2008--Here we go again, with another effort by Campagnolo to inject life into their (as we see it) moribund clothing line.  An official press release from Campagnolo talks up their new "It's always a perfect day" slogan, touting the ability of their clothing to make any day acceptable for riding.  (Side note: The new slogan reminds us a lot of "It's always a good day for a ride," a line frequently used in the online TV series "The Bicyclist".  Check out the first couple of episodes to hear it.)  Among the new initiatives Campagnolo is trying out are a special line of women's clothing and a "Factory Team" line that will use the company's logo more prominently than they have in the past. (Side note #2: There used to be plenty of companies out there making clothes that helped us '... feel part of the Campagnolo racing team' -- Campagnolo shut them down years ago when they launched their own line.)  Read the entire official press release here

December 17, 2007--OK, there's no Campy on it, but our made-in-India town bike is pretty cool anyway.  See it here

December 17, 2007--ShimaNO won't be going to any podiums next year for the Discovery pro team (http://team.discovery.com).  They're switching for '08 from ShimaNO to SRAM (see our Nov. 29 rumor, right down there).  See the entire cyclingnews.com report at:  http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2007/news/12-12 

December 10, 2007--As we reported in the rumor below, competitor SRAM is offering a new "Red" gruppo that's lighter than Record.  Not to be outdone, Campagnolo is now offering a special, pro-only Ergo lever set with (guess what) red highlights.  The red letter levers have stiffer springs for the stiffer, crisper shifts demanded by the pros.  They won't be offered to the public, which Campagnolo feels is well-served by the softer, less crisp shifts of the latest levers.  Campy Only notes that Campagnolo's transition to lighter shifts is fairly recent--their Ergo levers originally had a much more solid feel.  For more:  http://velonews.com/tech/report/articles/13758.0.html 

November 29, 2007--In a recent article about top end road gruppos, industry magazine Bicycle Retailer and Industry News noted that Campagnolo's position as the lightest road gruppo (Record) was lost this year to upstart SRAM, whose "Red" group is the first ever to get below 2,000 grams.  BRAIN went on to comment on Campagnolo's lack of market share at the lower ends of the market, where hardly any bicycle manufacturers spec Campy on their production line bikes.  Said BRAIN,
"Campagnolo's lower groups lack the 'known value' that Shimano and now even SRAM possess said [bike maker] Jamis' [Greg] Webber. Combined with long lead and delivery times, demand for Campagnolo is now more than ever limited to a small but passionate segment of the high-end market."

November 12, 2007--In a rare online sighting (or is it "reading"?) Campagnolo president and managing director Valentino Campagnolo had a few words to say about EICMA, the major Italian bicycle industry trade show.  The folks over at Bicycle Retailer and Industry News reported that Campagolo said the following:
“The timing is slightly late but it remains an important show for people who love handcrafted bicycles,” said Valentino Campagnolo, president and managing director of the renowned Italian componentry company bearing his name. “We’re here to introduce the new product range to shops and bicycle enthusiasts.”
He was also quoted as saying, “Our presence here costs money but enthusiasts expect to see Campagnolo."  
For more: http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/603.html 

November 12, 2007--Longtime Campy Only sponsor Branford Bike  has been back open most of this year, recovering for a devastating 2006 fire.  Here are photos of the new store in Seattle:

If you're in the neighborhood, check the shop out. They're at 2404 10th Ave. E., Seattle, WA, which is here:
  Or ... here

November 4, 2007--From the "who really cares' file comes news that Campagnolo has launched a web site devoted entirely to its pricey clothing line: www.campagnolocyclingapparel.com  We've been opining for years on this web site that Campagnolo's clothing is boring and overpriced--when you can find it. No bike shop that we know of in Northern California carries it (except rarely on deep clearance).  We didn't see any Campagnolo clothing at the bike shops we recently visited in France.  In fact, the only shop we have ever seen with a complete line of Campagnolo's clothing was in Vancouver, BC.  Now that they've launched the web site, maybe it's time to get the product out in the stores ...

November 4, 2007--May we say that Campagnolo's new hubs are just ... ugly? We're getting a new set of wheels built and wanted to use Record hubs. Problem #1--they only come in black. Problem #2--Chorus hubs aren't offered this year (just Record). Problem #3--Centaur hubs for 2007 look like cheap Japanese hubs from three years ago. Whatever happened to style? Campagnolo's desire to trim weight has also resulted in a heinously ugly design that carries none of the style we have all come to know and love. BTW, our "new" wheels will be rebuilt on a set of existing (stylish) Record hubs from about five years ago. They should be good for at least another five years.

September 16, 2007--As previously reported here (see this March 22 Rumors entry), Taiwanese component manufacturer Fulcrum has parterned with Campagnolo to produce components designed in Italy. It has been pointed out that Fulcrum's entry in the off-road wheel market now means that an all-Campy MTB drivetrain is now possible (if you stretch that definition a little to include Fulcrum's wheels). Campy's flat bar controls fit nicely on MTB bars, and there's a wide range of compact or double cranks available, plus wide-range derailleurs.  

July 16, 2007--Official news about the 2008 lineup.  
Highlights:
Completely redefined front derailleur for the Record and Chorus groupsets. The Centaur groupset gets a carbon fibre crankset option. The Shamal Ultra wheel comes with an additional finish: Titanium.

Details:
New Record and Chorus front derailleurs
The Record and Chorus front derailleurs have been completely redesigned. The new 2008 range versions have a standardized fork, compatible both with standard and compact cranksets, and new body and inner plate designs which provide a marked improvement in shifting performance.

Front derailleur body: The new body has been designed to embrace the two plates, the inner one and the front one. As a result the system is much more rigid and produces higher shifting performance, especially when shifting up with force from the smallest sprocket to the largest, i.e. at the most critical moment.

Front derailleur fork: the new fork design was developed to function perfectly with both standard and CT Campagnolo cranksets. The new fork retains the front part of the previous CT front derailleur, in other words the part that couples the chain at the moment of shifting towards the largest sprocket. But the rest of the fork is new. The curving and height of the fork are the fruit of laboratory testing which made it possible to establish a perfectly effective form in the case of both standard and compact sprockets.

Front derailleur inner plate: the new inner plate is overturned and pulled back compared with the previous one. This solution improves chain thrust when shifting towards the largest sprocket. Now the point at which the plate pushes on the front derailleur is in the middle part of the fork and no longer at the front. The result is a greater force applied to the fork and an increase in the rigidity of the whole.

Centaur, Veloce and Mirage front derailleurs
The front derailleurs of the Centaur, Veloce and Mirage groupsets adopt the new standardized fork for Standard and Compact cranksets.

Centaur Carbon crankset
The Centaur groupset will have an Ultra-Torque Carbon crankset option. The Centaur groupset, which with its technology and technical solutions is in no way inferior to competition groupsets, offers the Ultra-Torque carbon fibre crankset option in the 2008 range. Campagnolo therefore continues the march begun last year to bring the distinctive technological pluses of its top range to the middle range too: Ultra-Torque crankset, Skeleton brakes and carbon fibre. All of this, obviously, at a more reasonable price.

TECHNICAL SHEET
Cranks: multidirectional carbon fibre with unidirectional carbon fibre structure
Sprockets: aluminium
Screws: steel
Toothing: 53/39 – 50/34
Lengths: 170 – 172.5 - 175
Weight: 756 grams

Shamal Ultra wheel with new Titanium finish
Last year Campagnolo introduced a new top range wheel, the Shamal Ultra, which placed itself at the top of the Campagnolo aluminium wheel range. Just as with the first Shamal, the Shamal Ultra has been made with the best technologies and the finest materials. Shamal Ultra was conceived as a multipurpose wheel, effective in every situation, and all this excellence would have to be recognizable at first sight - which is why Campagnolo chose the gold colour for its debut year.

Shamal Ultra was one of the most successful products in 2007 and so Campagnolo decided to offer it in two colour versions for the next season: Gold and the new Titanium. A sober and elegant colour, which sticks out from the crowd and perfectly matches different frame colours. Shamal rims have a differentiated section: 26 mm for the front rim and 30 for the rear. This solution is currently the one which offers the maximum result in terms of performance and reliability. This is because we have a light and very steerable wheel at the front and a rigid and reactive wheel at the rear. The rims are lightened between the spoke insertion zones, namely in that section of the rim where you can reduce the thicknesses without compromising the solidity of the structure. The top bridge of the rims has no holes, and this translates into greater torsional rigidity and vertical elasticity for the wheel. The rear rim is drilled asymmetrically to obtain an improved wheel dish and a more correct distribution of stresses. Dynamic wheel balancing is assured by special milling in the section opposite the joint to balance the mass of the joint during wheel rotation.
The variable-section aluminium aero spokes are distributed radially on the front wheel and with Campagnolo's G3 geometry on the rear. Their tensioning is assured by aluminium nipples which lighten the system and simplify maintenance operations.
The hubs feature a carbon fibre central body and aluminium flanges with special machining to lighten them. There is an oversize aluminium axle and rotation is entrusted to adjustable bearings with 15 balls, also available optionally in ceramic. The rear hub has an oversize righthand flange to increase torsional rigidity and therefore transfer of the drive torque. Shamal Ultra wheels adopt a freewheel body which integrates the pawl carrier presented by Campagnolo last September.
The quick releases have a forged aluminium handle and two anchoring points for even
distribution of the operating force.
Shamal Ultra is compatible with Campagnolo and HG drivetrains and is available in clincher
and tubular versions.
Weight: 1,395 grams.

July 10, 2007--From www.cyclingnews.com ... photos of the Electronic Gruppo at Stage 2 of the Tour de France.  Will someone tell us again why we should buy an expensive gruppo that stops shifting when the batteries run out?  Photos here at Cyclingnews.

June 26, 2007--Lest we forget, next year will mark Campagnolo's 75th year in business.  You may have already read about this elsewhere (including the official site), but they're having a contest to celebrate the event:
Campagnolo celebrates 75th anniversary
VICENZA, Italy – The famous Italian brand kicks off its 75th anniversary in 2008 with an art contest. Fans can create the graphics for the Bora wheel. The renowned Italian component maker wants to celebrate this important milestone along with its many enthusiasts all over the world. It has therefore organized a competition, Bora Art, what will give an extraordinary chance to its fans to create a graphic design for the Bora wheel.
The theme will be: “Bora: epitome of technology, performance, speed and success”. To join, check on www.campagnolo.com and download the participation kit. The competition has just started and creations can be mailed up to September 14. The 10 selected creations will be exhibited at the EICMA Bici Show in Milan next November, and published on the Campagnolo Bora Art website to allow the public to choose the winner.
The winners will be awarded with the following prizes: 1st: a bike fitted with Chorus groupset and Bora wheels with the winning graphics; 2nd a bike fitted with Centaur groupset and Eurus wheels and 3rd: a bike with Mirage groupset and Vento wheels." (From http://www.bike-eu.com)

June 23, 2007--We took our Campy-equipped Rivendell for a ride in the mountains. Click here for photos.

May 17, 2007--Campy Only sponsor Total Cycling reports that they're nearly sold out of higher-end silver hubs, and having trouble finding more to sell.  They suggest that, unless supply improves, Record and Chorus hubs could become almost ... collectible.

March 22, 2007--When is an Ultra Torque crank not a Campagnolo Ultra Torque crank? When it's made by Fulcrum.  The Taiwan-based component maker, which already markets wheels designed by Campagnolo, will start selling a line of cranksets based on the Ultra Torque system, according to ppolnews.com.  Two models will be offered, both in carbon fiber.  The pricier "RS" version is advertised at 699 grams (with cups and bearings), while the "R" model weighs in at 751 grams.  Hollow arms and alloy chainring bolts  bring the weight down on the RS.  More info here

March 21, 2007--The British online cycling mag roadcyclinguk.com asked a top pro what the biggest difference between Campagnolo and ShimaNO is.  His answer? "The shape of the levers."  That's it, at least according to Australian Matt White, who rode for Discovery Channel in 2006 and 2007. "When the equipment is kept in good condition and replaced regularly, like it is on our race bikes, we don't have too many stuff ups from either groupset. I'm happy to ride both."  Full report here

March 16, 2007--Still more news about the electronic gruppo, this time from Pez Cycling.  Check out their report at http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=4772 

March 11, 2007--Thanks to the reader who spotted these photos of the latest version of the electronic gruppo.  The system is looking more finished than ever, but we will say again (as one of the posters on the BB where the photos were reproduced) that this gruppo is the answer to the question nobody asked.  Look at the battery under the bottle cage, the hefty plunger that works the front mech, and the heavy duty wire that is run (with zip ties, no less) all the way to the rear of the bike.  Why would you carry all this stuff and have to put up with worrying about a dead battery out on the road that will turn your 20-speed into a 1-speed?  Having said that, we will once again predict that, no matter how expensive the electronic system is, Campagnolo will sell every single one that they make.

March 8, 2007--Anyone who knows Richard Sachs also knows that he is decidedly unromantic about his frames.  He builds them to be ridden, not just looked at (witness his sponsorship of cyclocross, a sport that involves taking his bikes and throwing them over barriers into the frozen mud).  He makes finely crafted tools, which also happen to be showpieces.  However, Richard is craftsman enough to appreciate the art involved in what he does, and he has now collaborated with photographer Jeffrey Weir, of Greenwich, Connecticut, to produce a minimalist book comprised solely of photographs of his frames.  Even if you're not a fan of traditional steel, there's lots to look at here.  If you are a fan of steel and Sachs, it's just the thing to while away the days waiting for your frame to arrive ... More info here

March 6, 2007--Is this the ancestor of the Ergo lever?  Inventor Joel Evett told Campy Only that he showed this working prototype of an integrated shift/brake lever to Campagnolo in the 1970s.  According to Evett, Tullio Campagnolo himself dismissed it as a novelty.  Evett does indeed hold patents from the 1970s on integrated shift/brake systems.  He has come up with eight different versions of a new system (see it here at the bottom of the page) that replaces Ergo's pivoting levers with a single scroll wheel.  Who knows--we may see it on the road someday.
See Evett's patents here  More photos from Cyclingnews.com here

February 13, 2007--Trademark issues have prompted the owner of www.tuttocampagnolo.com to change the name of his web site to www.tuttocampybici.com.   The use of "Campagnolo" in the web address caused the change.

February 7, 2007--Campagnolo has won the season's first European pro race, at the GP d'Ouverture La Marseillaise.  Jeremy Hunt of the Unibet squad is shown taking the race by several lengths.  (Hunt's unusual jersey design is the result of a dispute over whether Unibet can advertise in France.)  Photo source: VeloNews.com 

The official news release:

Vicenza, 5 February 2007 - Campagnolo will be the technical sponsor of 10 Pro-Tour and 10 Continental teams in the 2007 season. This is considerable increase over the already conspicuous investment last year when it had 8 Pro-Tour and 5 Continental teams on the starting line. The reason for this decision is quite simple: Campagnolo came into being from a passion for the racing world, and all its products sprang from this. A few years after its debut in professional racing, Campagnolo became an integral part of that world, immediately winning the toughest challenges: extreme conditions of use and the fastidiousness of the great champions – sometimes theirs whims as well. The passion for racing, combined with these two factors, was the motor that drove the Vicenza company to produce components and wheels which would always be one step ahead of its champions' expectations. The result? Campagnolo has been a synonym for passion and for bike components of the highest quality for over 70 years. This year Campagnolo can boast of the presence among its athletes of two World Champions, Paolo Bettini and Tom Boonen, and of the two Pro-Tour winners, Alejandro Valverde and Danilo Di Luca. The teams sponsored by Campagnolo will use Record components, in particular the new Ultra-Torque crankset in the standard and CT versions, the new Skeleton brakes, and the Bora Ultra, Hyperon Ultra, Shamal Ultra, Neutron Ultra, Eurus and Ghibli wheels.

February 4, 2007--We're a few days late (sorry!), but it's worth noting that Branford Bike, a longtime friend of Campy enthusiasts (and a Campy Only sponsor for more than ten years) is open again in a new physical location (Seattle) but the same web address: www.branfordbike.com  Check out their web site--the new store will be stocking the same items you've come to depend on them for.  Welcome back, BB!

February 3, 2007--Longtime ShimaNO users Specialized will be riding on Campy-equipped bikes for 2007.  Well, mostly Campy ... check out this photo from www.specialized.com that shows a decidely non-Campy crankset and a pair of Roval wheels.

December 23, 2006--A new bicycle has joined our stable--a Campy-equipped Rivendell
Click here for more photos and info

December 22, 2006--Our regular perusal of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (a publication, by the way, that we have to get through back channels--they won't send it to us) came up with two items of interest to Campagnoscenti:
--First of all the Italian Trade Commission (the folks who bring you Campagnolo and some other Italian-made stuff) has named Paola Bellusci to head up their California branch.  Paola is the first female Trade Commissioner at the group's Los Angeles office. Her goal, as quoted in BRAIN, "is to strengthen the image of my country, not only as a world leader of beauty, reflected in art and in the manufacturing of traditional consumer goods--fashion, shoes, etc.  I want to emphasize that we are also a supplier of items characterized by unique design, such as bicycles, and special crafts."  Nice to see she snuck "bicycles" in there, right ahead of special crafts.  
--Meanwhile, that "S" company, the one we have derided here for being at its heart a maker of fishing reels, has named a new president of Shimano American Corp.  That person is David Pfeiffer, and we are not kidding about his roots ... he was formerly the vice president of the fishing tackle division (really, we are not making this up).  Said David in BRAIN, "I've been finding a lot of issues with customers and distributors are very similar."  Campy Only wonders how long it will be before ShimaNO offers shifter cables made of monofilament line ... or maybe ten-speed fishing reels.  P.S. Yes, that's a picture of David ... fishing.  Not a bike in sight.

December 22, 2006--Richard Sachs wasn't able to attend the Cyclocross Nationals ... or was he?  Click here for a very funny video presentation on Richard's big day at the 'Nats.

December 16, 2006--Longtime Campy Only sponsor Branford Bike will be reopening on February 1, 2007, with a new owner (Rodd Wagner) and a new location (Seattle).  Click here for more info.

December 14, 2006--You may have noticed that our home page counter passed 1.5-million hits on Tuesday (that's Dr. Evil over there, saying the "million" part).  Thanks to all of our readers for making--and keeping--Campy Only the #1 UNofficial Campagnolo website!

December 11, 2006--Follow Campy Only as we train for and ride next year's Paris Brest Paris ultramarathon event on a fixed gear bicycle.  We'll be using the Big Fix Blog to document the next eight months of training and riding.

December 10, 2006--We're hearing that Campagnolo's ErgoBrain computer will no longer be offered.  It will be replaced with a computer integrated with Campy's new electronic shifting system.  Get your ErgoBrain while you still can!

November 5, 2006--We installed a non-Campy part on our retro Cinelli.  Click here to see why.

November 2, 2006--Is the end in sight for ProFit pedals?  A Campy rep let slip to one of our readers that Campagnolo will no longer offer their house brand pedals.  Stiff competition from Look's new "Keo" pedals was blamed for the decision.  It may be time to stock up on new pedals, but Campagnolo's reputation for stocking parts should mean that we'll have plenty of spare cleats ...

November 1, 2006--What's Italian for "Campy Only"?  How about TuttoCampagnolo?  Their site recently launched.  Still no "Shimano Only" site that we know of ...

October 22, 2006--Reader Gary Mitchell sent these photos of his self-installation of the new Record Ultra Torque crankset. His take on the crankset: "UNBELIEVABLE. Super responsive, the cranks feel balanced and stable where the FSA failed (the FSAs always felt like they were teeter tottering on the cups). And it the looks are unmatched as always."

October 19, 2006--Be sure to mark your calendar for next year's North American Handmade Bicycle Show in San Jose, California.  March 2 to 4, 2007 ...

October 17, 2006--Branford Bike's Tim Brockett reports on his changed life, 2 1/2 months after the fire that destroyed his home and business.  If you've enjoyed Branford Bike over the years and ever wondered what it would be like to own such a business, now is your chance: Branford Bike is for sale!  Click here to read Tim's report, including links to his sale offer.  Branford Bike is still on the web.

October 17, 2006--Great closeup photos of the new Record skeleton brakes, courtesy of reader Roberto Quiñones.  Roberto reports that his initial road test confirms that the brakes work as well as standard Record brakes. Fit and finish are up to Campy standards, says Roberto.

October 10, 2006--Got $2000?  Then head over to eBay and bid on a 2007 Record Gruppo--be the first on your block to have the new stuff in the USA.  Click here for a link to the online auction (there are others as well)

September 29, 2006--From the recent Eicma Bicycle Exhibition in Milan come these shots of a bike equipped with the Record Compact gruppo and an unusual 52/34 chainring setup.  Thanks to reader Ben Koeleman for the photos.

September 28, 2006--Paolo Bettini won the World Championship road race on Sept 24, marking perhaps the first major pro victory aboard an Ultra-Torque-equipped machine. Click on the photo for a larger image--you can see the outboard UT bearings.  (Note that he's not using the new "skeleton" brakes.)

September 28, 2006--Here's an entry to the blogosphere you might want to check out:  http://rscyclocross.blogspot.com/

September 17, 2006--Several readers have pointed out that our September 7 rumor about Ergo levers is not entirely correct.  Record and Chorus have new internals, while Centaur, Veloce, Mirage, and Xenon now share the same insides.

September 14, 2006--Watch the entire Ultra Torque video, and you'll find that it wraps up with advice to use the new crankset and win more races.  To make that point, they show several winners crossing the finish line.  Great footage, but as near as we can tell the last sequence was shot at the 2005 Tour de France, long before Ultra Torque existed ...  Take a look and email us with your thoughts.

September 14, 2006--There's a cool video about the Ultra Torque crankset over at the official site.  Check it out at http://www.campagnolo.com/ultratorquevid.php

September 14, 2006--Reader David spotted this new product in his local supermarket.  No word on whether the bread will be offered in a multi-speed version.

September 14, 2006--Readers have pointed out that the new parts diagrams over at the official site show that older Ergo levers can be easily retrofitted to the newer shifting technology.  To see how to disassemble and rebuild levers, click here.

September 7, 2006--We have photos from Eurobike! Click here to see the new '07 Record gruppo mounted on a lugged steel DeRosa.

September 7, 2006--You may have noticed a new sponsor's banner up there at the top of the page.  Total Cycling has joined Campy Only as a sponsor.  We've purchased a number of items from them over the years, and were pleased when they approached us.  Total Cycling is located in the UK, but their shipping to the USA is amazingly fast.  Check them out.

September 7, 2006--The official site over at www.campagnolo.com has been updated with parts diagrams of all the new '07 equipment. One sharp-eyed reader pointed out that the "new" shifting mechanism for Record, Chorus, etc., is actually the same as the "old" Xenon internals, upgraded to 10-speed from 9-speed.  See our September 17 rumor ...

September 2, 2006--First photo from Eurobike! Very pretty Campy-equipped Colnago. Look for the "skeleton" brakes.  Check back soon for more ...

August 23, 2006--England's biggest cycling magazine, Cycling Weekly, chose a Campy-equipped Parlee Z3c as "Race Bike of the Year"

August 14, 2006--Can't wait to get 2007 eqiupment?  At least one online retailer is offering the 2007 Veloce Centaur gruppo, including the new Ultra Torque carbon crankset.  Price? A cool $1,499.95.  Check it out at eBay  Correction--This is actually a Centaur gruppo, hence the higher price.

August 7, 2006--Branford Bike Burns  Read Tim Brockett's gripping account of the Big Creek forest fire that consumed his home and business Click Here to visit Branford Bike

August 5, 2006--We are sad to announce that wildfires in Montana, the new home of Campy Only sponsor Branford Bike, have destroyed both Branford Bike and the home of owner Tim Brockett (along with several other homes).  The good news is that nobody was injured.  
Tim tells Campy Only that he will rebuild his home, but his inventory was a total loss and he had decided not to reopen.  This is a real loss for Campagnolo fans.  Tim has a long history with Campagnolo and could always be counted on for knowledgeable customer service and a deep, deep spare parts inventory.
As of today, Branford Bike's web site is still up, but phone service is down and they are no longer taking orders.
Tim and Branford Bike have been with Campy Only for more than ten years.  He is a good friend, and we wish him well as he works to overcome this tragic event.

August 5, 2006--Tour de France winner Floyd Landis' "B" sample test results have come back, and they weren't good: synthetic testorone and elevated levels.  Well, there's still some good news to be had ... Second place finisher Oscar Pereiro was Campy-equipped.  So, regardless of Floyd's outcome, Campagnolo has ended their long Tour victory drought.

July 28, 2006--OK, so we're a little late in mentioning this, but tears were blurring our vision and getting on the keyboard.  Campagnolo's 7-year losing streak at the Tour de France has been broken, but winner Floyd Landis sits under a cloud of suspicion. Say it ain't so, Floyd!

July 18, 2006--Information on the new gruppos is now available for our English-speaking readers.  Click here for a detailed rundown on all the new stuff, including potential prices.  How does $2,025 for a new Record gruppo sound?  Start saving now--they're coming soon.

July 14, 2006--Straight from Riis Cyclery in Denmark, here is a detailed look at Campagnolo's 2007 gruppos.  Click here to see the PDF file (abot 3.8 megs)
Great stuff, including:
-- Ultra Torque crankets (Record, Chorus, Centaur, Veloce)
-- Skeleton (lightened) brakes
-- Detailed views of parts from every gruppo
-- Three triple-crank gruppos: Comp Triple, Race Triple, and Champ Triple
-- Khamsin, Vento, and Scirocco wheels
An English translation of the Danish text is coming soon ... 

July 6, 2006--We've been gone for the past two weeks riding in the Big Fix, and while we were gone, a whole bunch of readers pointed out several sites that have posted photos of the 2007 Record and Veloce gruppos.  Here they are:
-- http://www.feltet.dk/forum/read.php?4,89695,89695#msg-89695 
-- http://www.foromtb.com/showthread.php?t=89119 
-- http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2006/features/wilier_centenary 

One source reports that we can expect the following for 2007:
-- All Campy groupsets will be offered in 10s only
-- All 2007 cranksets will have the Ultra Torque design
-- New "skeleton" brakes for Veloce upwards
-- Record brakes is slotted in the calipers to reduce weight.
-- A new 11 - 25 casette will be available
-- Veloce `Infinite` a new shiny black finish

June 14, 2006--Campy Only sponsor Richard Sachs is profiled in the upcoming July issue of Popular Mechanics magazine. Click here to read the article now.

June 14, 2006--Richard Sachs' new sponsor, RGM Watches, has created a very nice web page that describes how their philosophy meshes with his ...  read it here

June 9, 2006--Our 1972 Cinelli is done!  Click here for photos of the finished product.  Joe Bell did the paint work.

May 31, 2006--Best photos we've seen yet of the new Ultra Torque crankset, from the Belgian website www.procycling.be  Click here for more pictures

May 16, 2006--Official word from Campagnolo about Ultra Torque, from the Canadian web site www.pedalmag.com   Click here to read the official word on the next crank/bottom bracket system.

May 15, 2006--An auction on eBay has attraced a lot of attention--a air of retro jockey pulleys that ended at $1,680.  See it here  (P.S. That was a bogus bid ... the pulleys will be re-auctioned soon, according to the person selling them.)

May 13, 2006--Lots of readers have pointed us to Cyclingnews.com's web site, where they posted a photo of a new Bianchi with the "Ultra Torque" Xenon crankset. Cyclingnews points out (correctly) that Campagnolo is departing from past practice by deploying the new design in several gruppos, instead of offering a Record version first and trickling down through gruppos in following years.  Cyclingnews' page is here

May 11, 2006--More info on the 2007 gruppos, this time from another online site (here) ...
"I just had my hands on 2007 Campy Prototypes. Unfortunately with the Rep present, photos were not an option. Here's what I can tell you from what I can remember:
ID of the BB spindle at the crank arm is a massive 25mm. This tapers internally through the Bearing and externally after the bearing (inside the shell so to speak. I couldn't get an idea of the diameter of spindle further down (my ring didn't compare to anything...) The interface in the center has 20 teeth approx. 5mm deep on each side of the spindle that mesh much like two gears. A hollow alloy bolt holds the two sides together at 42Nm. I unfortunately didn't have a magnet handy so I can't tell you if the spindle with alloy or something else. The cups are separate from the bearing and are sold separately from the crank. The cups are the same through the range from Xenon to Record.
The Record cranks have been narrowed and made flat in order to keep the Q-factor the same as the current crank/bb set up. They're about 10mm thick at the edges, a small bulge down the center but otherwise flat and hollow. The most noticeable part is that they're close to 50mm wide! The explanation given was that whatever is placed inside the crank before curing the carbon is then sucked out through a small hole in the back side of the crank (this is then covered by some sort of sticker on the prototype, I don't know how the production model will be).
Chorus cranks are nearly identical to Record, however won't be hollow. Centaur and down go to a forged alloy arm with a concave backside, in a similar shape from the front as the carbon cranks. Centaur will be available in black.
Centaur brakes are forged slightly different from Record and Chorus, with exposed bolts in the center where as Rec/Cho are hidden bolt forged. they're still nice and round but with hollows in the arms. As has been said above, similar in idea to ZG, only a lot prettier, as would be expected from Campy.
Most of the other changes are minor, however I have one change to make to my previous statements, Chorus will be going to the shifter that only allows 1 gear change at a time when going to smaller cogs. Record will remain the only one allowing you to dump as many gears as your thumb will allow. However, the shifting action on the thumb lever of the lower units is EXTREMELY shorts and VERY easy so tapping the lever multiple times for shifts will not be a problem. This new system also lightens up the levers pretty well and will make for an interesting dilemma when choosing shifters for a piece by piece build.
US delivery on the higher end parts will be late, Chorus and Record probably won't see light of day here prior to October. Bianchi will be delivery bikes with Mirage 10 at the end of this month for most markets, probably June/July in the states. These are the bikes that have been photographed and going around on WW forums." 

May 10, 2006--A German-speaking reader pointed out this article at Bike Sport News that shows a slightly different new bottom bracket system:  Click here  The magazine reports that the new system is called Ultra-Torque.  It's similar to the type of splined connections used in racing engines, is held together by a single screw, and sheds 100 grams of weight from the current crank/bottom bracket setup.  Check out the images--the crankset also features outboard bearings ...  

April 28, 2006--More info about Campagnolo's 2007 lineup is coming out.  Here's the latest scoop, courtesy of Roues Artisanales.  Click here to read the article at their site.