Campagnolo on Facebook

We just learned that Campagnolo North America has a Facebook page. Check it out: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001929092113&sk=wall

As of today, they're up to 1,083 friends--let's see if Campy Only's fans can push that total higher!

And while you're there, check out Campagnolo SRL's home page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Campagnolo-Srl/76334343143

And ... don't forget the Facebook tribute page to Tullio Campagnolo (which, interestingly, lists Tullio as "Athlete").

Kickin' Butt

Came across this product in a store in Campy Only's hometown of Davis, CA ...

Road test results coming soon.

Updated 6-27-11: Here's their web site.

56 Days!

Wow! Paris-Brest-Paris keeps getting closer--now only 56 days to go. Yours truly will be on the starting line at 5 a.m. on August 22 with the other riders seeking to ride 1200 kilometers (about 765 miles) in under 84 hours.

Count down the days here.

2007--We finished PBP on our fixed-gear Quickbeam

Cool Bikes

We came across these bikes today on a trip to the Napa Valley. They are in the Calistoga Bike Shop and the Velo Vino winery in St Helena. They're not all Campy equipped (although most are), but they're all cool in their own way. Enjoy.

They are (top to bottom): Cinelli track bike from the late 1970s or the 1980s; Raleigh "Team" edition with Super Record; Teledyne Titan with Nuovo Record; Town bike at Vino Velo; Frejus track bike with Campy Pista gruppo; Swiss army bike.

Cinelli Track Bike with Campy Pista gruppo

More photos after the break!

Our PBP Machine

Photo of the Retro Benotto we will be riding in Paris-Brest-Paris in August. Not the lightest bike on the block, no Ergo shifting, but it's very comfortable and it's repairable should anything break. Note the unusual Rally rear derailleur, which handles the 48/34 by 13-28 gear combo quite nicely.

A New Campy Item: Tire Levers

Readers in the UK are telling us about Campagnolo's new composite tire levers, which are now available for purchase there or via UK-based online sites (like Campy Only sponsor Total Cycling).  Have you seen them elsewhere?

Today's Mod Bike: Nice Yellow DeRosa

Reader Chris B in the UK sent in this bright yellow bike, which looks perfect for a summer's day. Drivetrain is Daytona triple.

Campagnolo Updates Wheel Offerings with "Bullet" Line

Campagnolo has launched what is being termed a "massive" expansion of its wheel offerings with the "Bullet" line--a collection of nine different wheelsets that offer a variety of rim and bearing types. Read a full report from the folks at BikeRadar here.

Thanks to numerous readers for sending in this report.

Campy Wheels for ShimaNO-Equipped Bikes

Reader and friend Craig R sent in this helpful report on how even ShimaNO-equipped riders can enjoy the benefits of Campagnolo hubs:

Eric,

I built up something I figured that you would appreciate. Cat Berge is part of a 4 woman team for RAAM this year. Her main bike uses 650 wheels and is Shimano 9 speed. I built her up a spare rear wheel - and it uses the 99-06 Campy Record rear hub.

Today's Bike: 1993 Ritchey

Reader Steven P sent these photos of his 1993 Ritchey, along with these words:

I bought this new in 1993 -- Ritchey Road Logic steel frame with all its original campy chorus ergo parts!
Still works amazingly!

Today's Retro Bike: 1968 Bottecchia with Valentino

Reader Mark M sent these photos of a newly-acquired bike in his very interesting collection. This 1968 Bottecchia features parts from the somewhat unusual Valentino group (named for Tullio Campagnolo's son, who now heads the company).

Mark writes,

Attached are a couple of photos of my current 68 Bottecchia project. Campy Valentino set on this one, Dolomiti wheels, and Universal brakes.

Will bookmark and send photos if I ever finish this one, have a Rudge and Triumph project in the works also! This one has really only had a quick wipe-down and some Nev-R-Dull on the frame lugs… and put air in the dry-rotted tires and took her for a spin (the tubes actually held air for a bit), lol. The Valentino gearing still works well! Looking forward to riding this one from time to time and giving my modern Bianchi (Campy equipped also!) a break.

Electronic Gruppo For Sale This Summer?

One very interesting tidbit from Bicycling's article on the Campagnolo electronic gruppo:


Fausto Pinarello, president of Pinarello, has been involved in testing and hopes to begin selling EPS-equipped bikes this summer. [emphasis added]


If that's true, it would be the first time we've seen that the great unwashed (us) could finally get their hands on Campagnolo's electronic system.

Bicycling Magazine Rides Electronic

The road testers over at Bicycling Magazine have been trying out the latest version of the Campagnolo Electronic gruppo.  Read their review here.

Electrnic-Equipped Pinarello Dogma

From the review:

The best feature is the ability to move the rear derailleur multiple gears up or down by holding the shift levers—this is a marked difference from Di2, which shifts one gear each time you push the lever. Shift action across the cogs feels similar to Super Record, and we anticipate that it will become smoother as the group is refined. Front shifting, though, is as revelatory as shifting on Di2—the chain moves effortlessly and instantaneously between chainrings.

When Quick Release Was Like ... 11-speed

Advert from the early days of Campagnolo, circa 1935:

76 Days to Paris-Brest-Paris

It's getting closer! Watch this blog as we continue to prepare for--and then ride--the 1200 kilometers of Paris-Brest-Paris on our retro Campy-equipped, lugged steel Benotto.

Count down the days yourself here.