Campy Only!

Today's Campy Girl

2012-01-31T09:33:00.001-08:00

Dressed up and ready to ride retro style ... but what's with those shoes?

Sparks in the Night ...

2012-01-30T22:17:00.000-08:00

... Which is to say, some nighttime shots with the Spark HD II camera from Bad Vision (a Campy Only sponsor), taken during tonight's ride.

Video ...

... and 5 megapixel still

New Stuff From Bad Vision

2012-01-29T14:58:00.001-08:00

The folks at Bad Vision (a Campy Only sponsor and supplier of the cameras we use to film our cycling videos) have sent us a couple of new products to try out: an updated version of their Hotspot videocam sunglasses, which now shoot in 720P HD, and the latest version of the Spark HD bike-mount camera, which now films in 1080P HD at up to 60 frames per second.

We've given each a quick tryout, and the results so far are great. Watch for a complete review soon.

For now, here are some quick video samples. First, the Hotspot video glasses:

And the Spark HD II camera:

Photo From Today's Ride

2012-01-29T14:55:00.001-08:00

Our 1973 Motobecane, taken in downtown Sacramento. Campy content = Campagnolo BMX gold anodized crankset.

Today's Bike Girls

2012-01-27T12:51:00.001-08:00

The bike is SRAM-equipped, but who cares?

See the video here.

Battery-Powered Shifting: A True Story

2012-01-26T09:24:00.001-08:00

Campy Only sponsor Larry Theobald of CycleItalia sent in this report (originally titled "A biased and atypical but TRUE story") after a recent ride with a group that included someone using ShimaNO's new D12 electronic gruppo.

Read on after this report for a few more thoughts from Campy Only and Larry ...

"Yours truly went for a ride today with the guys who show up at a local bar at 2 pm most days. After the usual 'Tuesday Afternoon World Championships' got started I found myself left with two guys, Giuseppe riding a carbon Daccordi with pre-UltraTorque carbon Campagnolo gruppo and Martino, aboard a new-looking BMC machine equipped with Shimano Dura Ace DI2. We were soon joined by Luigi riding a Pinarello Dogma with a recent Record carbon groupset. These fellows were uninterested in making a race of it and were happy just to enjoy the ride, letting me tag along aboard one of our steel rental Torelli bikes equipped with the last version of 9-speed Mirage components.

We rolled along for a couple of hours with me trying to understand snippets of the Sicilian dialect with little luck, while observing my first Shimano electronic groupset in action. Eventually we reached the town of Canicattini, our highest elevation and turned for home, almost totally downhill. As we gained a bit of speed I noticed Martino going slowly but pedaling quite fast. As I rolled up behind it seemed his ultra-expensive, ultra-sophisticated front derailleur would not obey his command to move the chain up onto the big ring. The other bikes never missed a beat though perhaps their riders did once or twice, but we had to wait for Martino who could only whirl away on his small chainring and tiny cog in back.

Ironic how the most expensive and sophisticated components among our small group were the ones that failed, especially the very first time I'd seen one of these groups in action."

Campy Only's take is that this story highlights not only the reliability of Campagnolo's components (which CycleItalia uses exclusively), but the folly of relying on batteries to shift your chain. Even if nothing was wrong with Martino's ShimaNO system, a dead or dying battery would have had the same effect ... and this will affect bikes with Campagnolo's EPS system as well. Welcome to the age of charging up your cell phone, your iPod ... and your bike ... every night.

We asked Larry about this, and he agreed, and pointed to an opinion he wrote on another blog last year (scroll down to September 2) that highlights yet another issue with electronic shifting.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments section.

Rare 1984 Olympics Campagnolo Decal For Sale

2012-01-23T15:59:00.001-08:00

We're selling a bit of Campagnolo history from the Campy Only archives over on eBay--a rare and collectible window decal commemorating Campagnolo's role in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Here's a photo (see the auction for an explanation of why the ruler is backwards):

See the auction here. Bidding ends January 30 at 3:51 PST.

Today's Rain Ride

2012-01-22T21:55:00.001-08:00

A little rain (and a lot of wind) wasn't enough to deter us from getting in a ride today on our Campy-equipped 1973 Motobecane. Here it is in rain mode, including a cover for our leather Brooks seat bag.

Just for Fun on a Sunday

2012-01-22T16:17:00.000-08:00

How many of your Campy-loving friends can you spot in this video?

Campagnolo EPS Road Test EXCLUSIVE

2012-01-20T16:57:00.000-08:00

Campy Only correspondent Mike McGary sent this detailed report on the new electronic gruppos. Enjoy.

"Last week, I was fortunate enough to go to Campagnolo North America in beautiful Carlsbad, Ca. to take in some tech training on Campy’s new EPS (Electronic Power Shift) gruppos and go for a spin on the new kit. I was thoroughly stoked when I found out we would be riding the same Super Record-equipped Pinarello Dogma 2s that were used at the Campagnolo EPS world-wide launch in Sicily awhile back. Let’s just cut to the chase; After over 20 years of development, this is hands down the best gruppo on the market today, probably ever. Bar none.

Ergonomics are excellent-they feel just like Campy’s best-in-class mechanical hoods, (although they are slightly different). Campy’s “one-lever, one-movement” shifting makes this system very intuitive to those who ride Campy currently, and makes it extremely difficult to miss-shift by pressing the wrong button. In fact, the amount of finger pressure required to depress the mechanical shift levers has been measured and is set up exactly the same in the EPS electronic levers. There is a defined click with each shift that you can both hear and feel. (Essential for the pro peloton). In other words, the shifters don’t feel any different than what you are used to. It only took a few minutes for me to forget all about the electronics- it just felt like shifting a Campy bike, albeit quicker and easier.

The system is extremely robust. All components, including the electronics, are handmade in Vincenza. And every piece is individually tested quite extensively. Each rear derailleur is tested an astonishing seven times, before being boxed up. The gruppos are officially rated to function even under three feet of water. (Witnesses at Campagnolo Italy saw EPS systems being endurance tested in fish tanks, with the entire gruppos and batteries completely submerged.) And unlike the Shimano systems, EPS is fully electronic, rather than electro-mechanical . That is, its circuitry operates like a computer rather than a light switch. Also, all diagnostic functions are built in, so any problems can be diagnosed by the end-user. No need to attach any remote equipment. It is also very extremely vibration resistant. EPS was used during all the grueling Spring classics this year by the Movistar team without a single failure. In fact the groups were used throughout the 2011 Protour season and posted stage wins both at the Tour and the Giro. (For 2012, both Movistar and Team Lotto will be using EPS systems)

Initial set-up is an absolute breeze. After components are mounted, full adjustments can be made in less than 10 minutes. The rear derailleur can be re-adjusted on the fly when wheel changes are made on the road.

The thing that really stands out is the exceptional speed and precision that you get from EPS. Campagnolo would not have delved into this costly project unless they could make the bike shift faster and more precisely. And they have succeeded. Shifts are perfect every time, and shift-time is reduced 1/3 over its mechanical counterparts. Plus you can shift through al 12 gears both directions simply by holding down the lever. No need to back-off the pedals when shifting. The powerful servo motors on the derailleurs have enough “oomph” to overcome the stresses of pedaling. On our ride, we had a bigger fella (over 6’2” and 200 lbs) get out of the saddle into a full sprint, and he quickly shifted down four gears while maintaining full pressure on the pedals, and it went off without a hitch. It’s the lightest on the market too. In short, it has been designed to win races.

And in true Vincenza fashion, the gruppo is quite elegant looking. The rear derailleur is a stunning piece of equipment, an eye-pleasing mix of technology and beauty. It’s a lust-worthy as anything to ever come out that storied factory. The official Campy website has a terrific site dedicated solely to Campagnolo EPS , where you can get the complete low-down.

I have been told to expect availability sometime this Spring in both Super Record and Record configurations. Record is expected to be priced very competitively with Dura Ace Di2. Even though pricing is not yet available, we know this technology will not come cheap. However if you want the best (ever), here it is!

Thanks,
Mike McGary"

Today's Mod Bike: Will's Cervelo

2012-01-20T09:17:00.001-08:00

Reader Will S. sent in this photo and report on his new build:

I just finished building this S2 with a mix of Record & Chorus components, Shamal Ultra wheels, Easton EC90 SLX bars, a Ritchie 4 axis stem and fizik Arione cx saddle. The first ride was amazing and so fast. There will be many more like it... --Will S.

Got a bike (retro or mod) that you'd like to share with Campy fans around the world? Email your photos to us and we'll post it here: enorris [at] campyonly [dot] com

Photos from the Weekend

2012-01-16T12:13:00.001-08:00

CampyOnlyGuy rode from San Francisco to Monterey and back this weekend--about 250 miles, with 11,000 feet of climbing (and an entire day into a headwind on Day Two). I was riding the Campy Only Motobecane, a 1980s-ish Grand Record equipped with a Campy BMX crankset (Campy content!) and a three-speed fixed gear drivetrain.

More photos here. Video below is of a mural near Aptos.

Updates to a Campy Only Project Bike

2012-01-10T12:02:00.001-08:00

Readers of this blog may recall that we've been playing around with a 1980s Motobecane Grand Record frame, which we outfitted with a Campy BMX crankset (Campy content!) and a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed fixed gear hub. Our goal is to use this bike on some longer brevets--and certainly to ride it after dark. With these goals in mind, we recently added a Busch and Muller "bottle dynamo" (their D6 model) to the bike, using the B&M seatstay mount. The light is connected to an IQ Cyo LED headlight (very bright, 95% of the performance of a Schmidt Edelux at half the price) and a B&M 4-LED taillight.

Mounting the dynamo and lights took us a couple of hours, and required a small mod to the fender so that the dynamo wouldn't rub on it. We're quite pleased with the results.

The dynamo, for those who have considered mounting one, generates slightly more drag than a Schmidt dynamo hub (as well as a subdued whistling noise when engaged). It's not that noticeable, and has the advantage of going to zero drag when it's off and the dynamo is not in contact with the wheel.

More photos here.

Note: We already had the dynamo and headlight; the other bits were purchased locally (Sacramento CA) at Bicycle Business. Nice to know that there's a local supplier of this stuff, which is generally pretty hard to find. They're also online, as is Peter White Cycles, the main US importer of dynamo lighting supplies.

An Ending and a Beginning: Photos from Two Rides

2012-01-03T14:25:00.001-08:00

The Davis Bike Club sponsored two 200K brevets this past weekend--the "Last Chance" and "First Chance" brevets. Campy Only was there for both--didn't ride the entire distance either day, but got out for some quality miles nonetheless.

Here are links to photos and videos:

Last Chance Brevet, 12-31-11

First Chance Brevet, 1-1-12 Videos shot with the Spark HD camera from BadVision

Riding EPS Electronic: Nice, and It Works Manually, Too

2011-12-29T13:16:00.001-08:00

England's Road.cc online magazine published a story describing their first road test of the new EPS system, and their review is generally positive. They report good shifting, including a nifty feature that aligns the front derailleur when you shift gears on the cassette. Cons include high cost and a slight weight penalty.

They didn't mention the fact that electronic shifting relies on batteries, which run down. However, the article notes,

"... if the worst happens and you do manage to break it out on the road, you can manually put it into the gear you want and it’ll stay put."

Manual shifting. What a concept. And of course, if your dead battery forces you into manual mode, you'll need to stop and get off the bike every time you want to shift (back to the 1920s) or stay in the same gear (back to the 19th Century).

Still, Campy Only stands by our long-held belief that Campagnolo will sell every single EPS gruppo they make, regardless of cost or drawbacks. Let us know in the Comments whether you plan to buy it.

New Campy Stuff Under Your Tree?

2011-12-27T16:25:00.001-08:00

Reminder to add your comments to our "What did Santa bring you" post. Let Campy fans around the world know what kind of new cycling stuff you found on Christmas morning.

Cyclepedia: Campy Fans Who Own an iPad Need This App

2011-12-23T11:06:00.001-08:00

Wow!

We own plenty of bicycling books, but this just-released app for the iPad goes way beyond them. Cyclepedia offers exquisite, detailed photographs and write-ups on 100 noteable bicycles from the 1920s to the present day. Anyone with even a passing interest in the history of bicycles and their technology will enjoy this app. Click on a bike, and you have the option to see an interactive, 360-degree view (spin the bike around to see the sides, front, and back), plus detailed, zoom-able photos of various parts. It's quite striking and very well done.

At $9.99, it's among the more expensive iPad apps we've bought, but worth every penny. If you're looking for a gift idea, or if Santa drops an iTunes gift card in your stocking, this is a must-have item.

Screenshot from the app (yes, there's plenty more Campagnolo stuff):

What Did Santa Bring You?

2011-12-23T10:41:00.000-08:00

Christmas is almost here, and we're interested in what kind of cycling (and Campy) related gifts Santa brings you. Use the Comments below to tell your fellow Campy fans around the world what ya got!

Great Wintry Bicycling Art

2011-12-21T15:43:00.001-08:00

From the vast Campy Only archives ...

Cycle Italia's Campy-Covered Support Van

2011-12-21T14:17:00.001-08:00

Our friends over at Cycle Italia (a Campy Only sponsor) sent us this photo of their support van. It's clear what type of components they use ...

Cycling Week Looks at EPS (But Can't Touch It ... Yet)

2011-12-19T14:05:00.001-08:00

The folks over at www.cyclingweekly.co.uk have weighed in on the new electronic EPS gruppos (figuratively and literally), and based on what they see, they like it. They haven't been able to ride it yet, so for now,

"We'll wait and try a production set for ourselves before we go along with Campagnolo's statement but it certainly looks as though electronic is here to stay."

Electronic Shifting on the Web

2011-12-16T13:42:00.001-08:00

Campagnolo has launched a web site just for the new EPS electronic shifting gruppo. Check it out at http://eps.campagnolo.com/en

Videos from Vicenza

2011-12-15T07:18:00.001-08:00

Campagnolo SRL has a bunch of videos on YouTube explaining EPS (electronic) shifting and other topics.

To see them, search YouTube for "CampagnoloSRL" Here's one example:

Campy Only Photo Fun

2011-12-14T10:28:00.001-08:00

Some of the photos from last weekend's ride in the Sierra Foothills, run through photo apps on the Campy Only iPhone:

Today's Blast From the Past: The Campagnolo Jumpsuit

2011-12-12T14:50:00.001-08:00

Today's item comes from contributor Mike McGary:

Mike writes,

This blast from the past came from Chris at Pro Peloton in Boulder CO and is on display in the shop. It’s a Campagnolo Servicio Corsa jumpsuit for their team mechanics circa late 70s (?) Notice the removable shop rags attached to thighs so you can wipe your hands.

Bikes and Wine

2011-12-11T08:07:00.001-08:00

Not a lot of Campy content, but some nice scenery and some great wine in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California of yesterday's wine-tasting ride. More photos here.

Note: If you're in the area and planning to do some wine-tasting on your bike, do not go to Green Family Wines. They refused to serve our group for the sole reason that we were riding bikes.

$172 for a Half-Full Tub of 40-Year-Old Grease?

2011-12-10T09:29:00.001-08:00

That's the winning bid in a recent eBay auction. Anybody out there have some old grease they want to sell?

Thanks to reader Bernie R for this item

Do You Know This Headset?

2011-12-10T09:05:00.001-08:00

One of our readers has a 1959 Mercian with this headset. If you can identify which year the headset was produced (he thinks it's original), let us know: enorris (at) campyonly (dot) com

Why Didn't Somebody Think of This Before?

2011-12-06T18:19:00.001-08:00

Riders of a certain age (like yours truly) have probably noticed that things like bike computer screens are getting smaller and harder to read. Or at least getting harder to read. Campy Only has started using bike computers with bigger and bigger displays, but some of our bikes have units that display in (seemingly) tiny digits.

There are lots of riders like us out there, so it's a wonder that nobody (that we know of) has come up with the product recently launched by Dual eyewear. Dual's product is simple: Cycling-oriented sunglasses with a built-in bifocal at the bottom so you can more easily read your computer, or watch, or route sheet.

Sure, you can go to your optometrist and have lenses or inserts made for Oakleys or Rudy Project sunglasses, but Dual's product is relatively cheap--$50 for a nicely made pair of sunglasses--and doesn't require a visit to your local optician. For the price of one set of prescription inserts, you can probably buy half a dozen pair of Dual's sunglasses.

We've been wearing Dual's glasses for several days now (their V6 version, with a bifocal portion that matches our prescription for reading glasses). Having never worn bifocals in the past, they took a little getting used to, but after a little practice they work exactly as advertised. Suddenly, bike computers are easier to read, and my wristwatch face is in sharp focus. They'll even serve to read the menu at your lunch stop. (In case you're wondering, from more than a few inches away the bifocal isn't visible. Your friends won't know unless you tell them.)

The design is nice, and the overall quality is good. The lenses aren't polarized (or preference--we don't like riding with polarized lenses). The lenses aren't replaceable, but Dual offers a lifetime warranty in the event they break.

Of course, Dual's glasses won't work if you're nearsighted and need prescription lenses for distant viewing. But if you're one of the millions of riders who use reading glasses, they could be just what you've been looking for.

More info: www.dualeyewear.com

Note: Dual provided a pair of sunglasses to Campy Only for road testing.

Beausage ... or Abuse?

2011-12-05T14:55:00.001-08:00

The owner of this Campy-equipped Bianchi (spotted in Campy Only's hometown of Davis, CA) is either into the Grant Petersen "beausage" concept (bikes should show signs of use ... beauty + usage), or they just don't care about their bike. Tell us in the Comments below which you think is the case.

Stuff We're Using: Smart Sleeve iPhone Case

2011-12-05T08:48:00.001-08:00

When we ride, we always carry our iPhone in a jersey pocket. And that means we're in need of a way to keep sweat (and sometimes rain) from creeping into the electronics.

One solution we've found is the Smart Sleeves cover. We first found these at the California State Fair this year, and have been using them ever since. Smart Sleeves are made of a very clear plastic that lets you see the screen and use the touch controls while the phone is still in the bag (an improvement on other carriers that require you to remove the phone). The manufacturer claims that the bags are waterproof, although in practice we've never tried submerging the phone.

Yes, a less expensive ZipLoc bag will also work, but the Smart Sleeve allows easier use of the phone and can last much longer. More info: www.smartsleeves.com

Campy Only's Annual Post-Thanksgiving Ride

2011-12-05T08:29:00.001-08:00

For your holiday viewing enjoyment ... video from our annual post-Thanksgiving ride, which this year involved 140 miles of riding and 5,000 feet of climbing. Perfect for working off that second helping of stuffing.

View the video in HD on YouTube here. Our video was filmed with the Spark HD camera from Bad Vision (a Campy Only sponsor).

Electronic? Ha! SRAM Looks to Hydraulics

2011-12-01T10:58:00.001-08:00

Interesting report from BikeRumor.com about the updates to SRAM's "Red" lineup, including news that they're looking at adding hydraulic brakes next year.

Welcome to our Newest Sponsor: Cycle Italia

2011-11-29T08:30:00.001-08:00

We're proud to announce the latest addition to our lineup of Campy Only sponsors: Cycle Italia. Check out their web site for information on challenging, small-group cycling tours in Italy.

Somebody Buy This Girl a Sweater ...

2011-11-28T14:48:00.001-08:00

... or at least a warm jersey. A pair of cycling-appropriate shoes would also be nice ... maybe a helmet.

(She doesn't ride a Campy-equipped bike, but she's been showing up on the Campy Only blog for many readers, so we thought we'd feature her here.)

Filming in HD with the BadVision Spark

2011-11-27T19:57:00.001-08:00

Here is a selection of videos and stills (yes, stills) taken a few days ago on Campy Only's traditional post-Thanksgiving Day ride using the Spark HD video camera from Bad Vision. The camera performed quite well--the 720p HD footage looks great, with a little rolling shutter here and there, and the stills are acceptable (and easier to take than hauling a regular camera out of a jersey pocket).

For more info on Bad Vision cameras, click here.

Video:

Nighttime Video:

Still:

Disclaimer: Bad Vision is a Campy Only sponsor

No Campy Content Whatsoever ...

2011-11-21T17:50:00.001-08:00

... Just photos from today's rally at the UC Davis campus in support of the students who were pepper-sprayed by campus police last week. More photos here.

We now return to our regularly scheduled content ...

Campy Only!

2011-11-21T08:50:00.001-08:00

Our flagship site, on the web since 1995.

Campagnolo Trivia: The Dishing Tool

2011-11-20T20:18:00.001-08:00

What’s the last consumer good you purchased that’s been in continuous production for over a half century?

What’s the last consumer good you purchased that’s been made in the same city, by the same company, under the ownership of the same family, for over a half century?

In 1953 Ferrari had been producing road-going cars for 6 years – the LP record was 5 years old. The Chevrolet small-block V8 was still two years away.

And in 1953 Campagnolo introduced their dishing tool. For years it was known simply as the “N” tool and is known by Campagnolo as the UT-HU010. Campagnolo documents refer to it somewhat prosaically as “wheel dish tool for checking the centering of the rim to the locknuts of hubs”

And as of this week the last shipments to North America have been sent. If you’re a wheelbuilder, one of the Campagnolo tifosi or just a fan of post-war Italian industrial design I’m confident you’ll find that to be money well spent.

Note: Yes, Campagnolo is ceasing production of the wheel dishing tool after this year. Also gone is the famous "peanut butter" crank bolt wrench, another icon of Campagnolo's golden era.

Thanks to Campy Only contributor Mike McGary for this item.

Bike Europe Tests Electronic Shifting

2011-11-17T14:03:00.001-08:00

The folks at bike Europe went to Italy to try out the new EPS electronic gruppos. Here's what they learned.

Lots of Words About Electronic Power Shifting (EPS)

2011-11-15T12:23:00.001-08:00

As would be expected, Campagnolo's impending official release of their long-awaited electronic shifting system has sparked a flurry of articles online. Here's one from Bike Europe. We'll post links to others as well in the coming days.

Campy-Equipped Machines from the 7-Eleven Days

2011-11-14T13:30:00.001-08:00

Campagnolo and 7-Eeven ruled the roost when the bikes were first built. Both are still around, of course, although it's been a while since we've seen such nice bikes with the Murray name on them.

Campy Only contributor Mike McGary spotted these at a bike shop in Green Bay, IL. He writes,

"Here’s something you don’t see every day. A couple of historic bikes I came across at Green Bay Cycles in Winnetka, IL. Larry had these in the basement of his shop. Not one but two 7-11 Team “Murrays” ( built by Serotta I believe). The inner bike was Davis Phinney’s team ride and the outer bike was made for the 84’ LA Olympic Road Race, for an unknown team member. Of course fully decked out with Super Record ."

More photos after the jump ...

Today's Ride Video

2011-11-13T18:11:00.001-08:00

Filmed entirely with video camera sunglasses from Bad Vision (official supplier of video cameras to Campy Only).

Quick Trip on the Winters Pedestrian Bridge

2011-11-12T19:12:00.001-08:00

Here's a quick trip over the refurbished 1906 railroad bridge in Winters, CA, which now serves pedestrian and bicycle traffic only.

www.CampyOnly.com

2011-11-12T13:50:00.001-08:00

Reminder to check out the Campy Only web site for lots more Campagnolo-related content, including our famous classic catalogs archive! Campy Only has been on the web for more than 15 years--the original and best UNofficial Campagnolo site.

Your Tuesday Campagnolo Girl

2011-11-08T09:10:00.001-08:00

From the Greg Lemond/Team Z/Big Mig era. Love the big hair ... and the Delta brakes

Thanks to the reader who pointed out Miguel Indurain in the peloton. We were focusing on another part of the photo and missed that ...

Electronic Gruppos(!) Are Here--Is the World Ready?

2011-11-07T15:37:00.001-08:00

Well, it's November 7, the day on which Campagnolo was scheduled to officially unveil their electronic gruppo. And that they have done, but in a Steve Jobs-like moment, they basically said, "But wait, there's one more thing ..." That one more thing was a second electronic gruppo--yes, there will be Super Record EPS and Record EPS versions, which Campagnolo says are slightly lighter than ShimaNO's electronic ensembles.

VeloNews reports on the official launch here.

Click below for excerts from the VeloNews online story:

From the VeloNews article:

Pricing: "The company will be shipping groups for sale next month, so the price information will have to become public soon!"

Weight: "Campagnolo claims that its two groups are now the two lightest electronic groups on the market, with Super Record EPS weighing in at under 2,100 grams, and Record EPS coming in at around 2,200 grams."

Sweeping Shifits: "Another surprise is that that with a single push, you can shift through all 11 gears up or down; the system reacts to how long you hold a button down. Holding it down for 1.5 seconds goes through all 11 gears, while you can shift, say, three gears in a go by holding it down less than half a second."

Campagnolo Isn't Just "Like" Jewelry ... It IS Jewelry

2011-11-07T12:09:00.001-08:00

Found this blogger who took the concept of jewel-like components to the next level. Read their blog post here.

VeloNews' Lennard Zinn's Hopes for the Electronic Gruppo

2011-11-07T12:01:00.001-08:00

So far, Lennard Zinn, VeloNews' tech guru, isn't seeing some key features that he thinks Campagnolo should build into the electronic gruppo. Read his article here.

Bicycling Magazine Profiles Campagnolo

2011-11-07T09:51:00.001-08:00

In case you haven't seen it, you should check out Bicycling Magazine's recent profile of Campagnolo, "The Italian Job." It's a very detailed, warts-and-all examination that asks the question, Can Campagnolo Survive? Check out the article to see what they conclude.

Company head Valentino Campagnolo with the cart used by father, Tullio Campagnolo.

Joe Bell's Garage Sale

2011-11-07T08:45:00.001-08:00

And what a garage he has ...
Virtuoso frame painter Job Bell (a friend and sponsor of Campy Only) has some frames and other items for sale. More details here.

A Campy-ish Tattoo

2011-11-04T21:53:00.001-07:00

Andrew, at Olympia Cycles in Omaha, NE, sent this photo of one of his female customers. She rides a Campy-equipped Bianchi, and she's obviously very proud of that fact.

Thanks to Andrew for the photo!

You can see more Campy tattoos here.

Campy-Obsessed Writers Wanted

2011-11-04T09:37:00.001-07:00

Are you a fan of Campagnolo? Can you write ... well? Maybe take a photo or two?

If so, we'd like to talk to you. We're looking for articles about Campagnolo equipment--news, road tests, travel, etc.--and we can offer you the exposure provided by this blog and the Campy Only web site.

Email us: enorris [at] campyonly [dot] com for more details.

Who Is This Girl ...

2011-11-03T21:52:00.001-07:00

... And why is she balancing a Record crankset on top of an Epson printer cartridge? And who told her that bridesmaid's dress looked good on her? So many questions ...

California Triple Crown: We Are At 22 Years and Counting!

2011-11-03T21:46:00.001-07:00

22 years ago, Southern California rider Chuck Bramwell started a challenge series: the California Triple Crown. The rules were simple--complete at least three double centuries in one year and you became a Triple Crown finisher. The next year, the counting would start again.

Your humble CampyOnlyGuy took up the challenge that first year (1990), kicking off an unbroken string of CTC finishes. Blazing heat, freezing cold, pouring rain ... even illness tried to stop us, but we rode on. And 22 years later, we're still going strong. No other rider has completed every single CTC season.

The CTC season will begin for us again in February with the Camino Real Double Century. Come back to this blog for photos and reports.

Store-In-A-Store Will Feature Campagnolo Sportswear

2011-11-03T13:11:00.001-07:00

Campagnolo is launching a new concept for retailing its clothing line, a "store in a store" that will debut later this year in Holland. We received this press release today:

World’s first CSW shop-in-shop, own magazine and renewed website

Campagnolo Sportswear (CSW) signed the contract with specialized cycling shop Egbert Egberts from Borger for the first shop-in-shop in the world at the latest Bike Motion Benelux. In November starts the renovation, followed by an official opening at December 9.

The CSW shop-in-shop will have a prominent place in the store. The design is stylish Italian and by using indirect lighting and clever presentation and storage options, the clothing is presented to its best advantage. The whole concept is tailor made by Eddy Bouwmans of De Interieur Makers (DIM interior).

Left to right: Andrea Cagnin (CSW Italy), Klaas Almoes (Store Manager Egbert Egberts), Pascal Arts (CSW Benelux, ERP) and Eddy Bouwmans (DIM interior) toasting on the first CSW shop-in-shop at Bike Motion Benelux.)

Distributor of CSW Pascal Arts about his world premiere: "The CSW Shop is THE way to display the collection nice and synoptic to the customer. Egbert Egberts is showing with this shop-in-shop that he is new and innovative in the industry. This fits perfectly into the vision of Campagnolo Sportswear. I enjoy working with dealers who move with the market and see new possibilities, without missing the demand of the customer. "

That CSW is working innovative reflects in their last year successfully launched journal 'Challenge', their own Campagnolo Sportswear magazine. With a circulation of over 6000 copies, this free magazine reaches all Campagnolo fans in the Benelux. The magazine can be also picked up for free at the Campagnolo Sportswear dealers.

In addition, the website www.campagnolosportswear.nl has been completely renovated and became interactive. The visitor will not only find the (international) Campagnolo news, the magazine can also be viewed digitally. Besides, an international cycling calendar is integrated and there is a link to Facebook and Twitter. On average the site receives 4,500 visitors a month and this number is increasing as we speak.

Pascal Arts: "Innovation is written large for Campagnolo Sportswear. So we have many more new and even cross industry plans. Curious? We will present more spectacular ideas very soon."

Our Paris-Brest-Paris Movie

2011-11-01T10:28:00.001-07:00

A reminder that the epic video of our Paris-Brest-Paris experience is available on YouTube (or, for viewers outside the US, it's available here). We invite you to check it out--tell your friends, and help us get to 1,000 views!

Bike-mounted video of PBP was shot with an HD camera from Bad Vision (a Campy Only sponsor)

Photos from Yesterday's Ride

2011-10-31T08:53:00.001-07:00

We hopped aboard our Campy-equipped 1980s Motobecane yesterday and headed to Napa, where our lovely wife/support driver met us for lunch at the Oxbow Market. Photos and video from the ride (shot with an HD camera from Campy Only sponsor Bad Vision) are here. (Note: The video below was shot with an iPhone 4S.)

Somebody Find a Campy-Equipped Bike for This Girl!

2011-10-30T22:55:00.001-07:00

She definitely needs one. Where did they find that old bike?

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More German Cheesecake

2011-10-28T11:37:00.001-07:00

Here's another bike from the stable of reader Elmar, in Germany. He writes of this bike:

Here is my latest Campy-Babe: I call him "EDUARDO", a 1992 vintage Bianchi-Thron-Frame (NOS) completed with 2009 Centaur Components, Omega V rims and a beautiful slim and sexy Athena-Brake. All in Aluminium, to match with the chrome of the wonderful frame - I like it this way ! He is below 10 kg having a vintage appeal and today's performance...

Riding in pleasant sunshine you must wear sunglasses to stand the sparkling silver of the glittering rear frame and components - pretty cool.

Have a fine and golden autumn in CA, best regards from Germany.

We love the monoplanar brakes, and still rue the day we sold our set some years ago ...

Today's Retro Bike

2011-10-21T09:59:00.001-07:00

Today's taste of retro comes from reader Elmar in Stuttgart, Germany, who writes,

"Hello Folks,

This is my snow white Raleigh-Carlton from Feb 1981, Campy SR drivetrain, Modolo SPEEDY Brakes and levers and a fine British attitude, hope you will publish the pics.

This bike is a real racing guy climbing beautifully, with a responsive frame and the best components: SR !

Nothing more to say, best regards and leave ya chain on the right !
Elmar"

Enjoy!

Electronic Shifting is Coming on November 7

2011-10-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

This just in from the web--Campagnolo's long-delayed electronic shifting system will be officially released in a press event on November 7. Pro teams will get the gruppos two weeks later ... still no word on when the public can get their hands on it, but it's likely to be in spring 2012. Read about it here and here.

Last Weekend's Campy-Equipped Ride

2011-10-18T16:55:00.000-07:00

Some raw (unedited) videos and a few photos from the Foxy Fall Century on October 15. Click here for more photos and videos (filmed with Hotspot video camera sunglasses by Bad Vision). Turn the volume down before playing the video--there's a lot of wind noise.

2011-10-17T19:31:00.000-07:00

Nice photo of the Cambio Corsa shift levers from the folks at Velo News. (Click on the link to read about how to shift this beast.)

Video: Our Latest Addition

2011-10-14T07:49:00.001-07:00

It's not Campy-equipped, but we're still having fun riding this classic town bike--a 3-speed Raleigh Superbe that we found at a yard sale here in Davis, CA. Quick video of the bike:

Today's Campy Glamour Shots

2011-10-13T14:33:00.001-07:00

D'oh! Lost the sender info for these shots, but he would appreciate having his photos posted here:

GM Says Campagnolo Sucks

2011-10-12T19:20:00.000-07:00

GM may have decided to pull an ad that suggests that chicks don't dig cyclists ... but not before we noticed that the bike in the ad appears to be Campy equipped. Look closely (click on the image for a larger view) ...

Those brake levers looks like 1990s vintage Campagnolo. A very interesting choice for the ad, considering they've been out of production for almost 20 years.

Stuff We're Using: Bad Vision Hotspot Video Glasses

2011-10-10T11:03:00.001-07:00

Bad Vision (a Campy Only sponsor) recently sent us a pair of their Hotspot video camera glasses for testing, and we've started putting them through their paces. The Hotspot glasses offer an easy way to carry a video camera with you everywhere--they're built into a pair of sunglasses that look pretty much like something Oakley would design. If you're into making videos of your rides (or anything else), they're a great option.
Watch for a detailed road test, but for now here are some very quick first impressions:

The Hotspot glasses wear just like regular sunglasses. The temple pieces are a bit thicker then normal (they hold the Li-ion batteries and electronics), but they glasses are very light.
Video quality is good, on par with Bad Vision's Spark camera (which we used for a number of on-the-bike videos this year). BV is coming out with an HD version of the glasses, but for now we're using their standard model.
They're easy to use--one button turns them on, another starts and stops the camera. You can safely use these while riding.
On the "con" side, we can't get the Hotspot glasses to work on our Mac. The glasses show up perfectly on a PC, but not on an Apple machine. There's a workaround (and we're working on a way to fix this), but it's a bit of a hassle. Update 10-11-11: Bad Vision's Mike Boester reports that his Mac (running OSX 10.6.8) sees his Hotspot camera just fine. We're running Lion, so perhaps that's the problem for us. We'll keep checking into this.

Check back soon for our complete review! (And, coming soon, our review of the new HD version of the Hotspot glasses.)

Gold-Plated C-Record at a Gold-Plated Price

2011-10-10T09:19:00.001-07:00

An eBay seller is currently offering a rare 35th Anniversary edition of the C-Record gruppo with gold-plating added by the folks at Colnago. Price? A cool $3,999. Check out the auction here.

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Tonight's Campy Girl

2011-10-06T21:48:00.001-07:00

Going a little retro for this one ...

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Farewell, Steve Jobs

2011-10-05T22:16:00.001-07:00

Both the Campy Only blog and web site are exclusively "made on a Mac." We mourn the passing today of Steve Jobs. RIP, Steve.

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Welcome Our Newest Sponsor

2011-10-03T21:40:00.001-07:00

We are proud to announce Campy Only's newest sponsor: Bad Vision. The name may be new to you, but if you've watched our videos over the past year, you know their product. Bad Vision makes the bike-mounted video cameras that we use to capture "POV" footage on our rides (including our recently released video of Paris-Brest-Paris).

Check out their full range of sports-oriented video cameras at www.Bad-Vision.net and watch this blog for road tests of their upcoming products, including ... well, you'll have to check back to find out.

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New Place to View Our Paris-Brest-Paris Movie

2011-10-01T19:52:00.000-07:00

YouTube won't let viewers in some countries outside the US see our PBP 2011 movie, so we've created a page at CampyOnly.com to view or download it. Click here to see the PBP movie ... no matter where you are!

Campagnolo: Waiting to Release Electronic Gruppo

2011-09-30T14:02:00.001-07:00

Some interesting notes from this year's Interbike show in Las Vegas from www.examiner.com:

Campagnolo has jumped into the aero clincher wheel wars with a double-twisting back flip and landed on both feet. The new Bullet clincher series combines the best attributes of aluminum and carbon, with options in rim depths (50 and 80mm in the standard Bullet, plus 105mm in the Bullet Ultra) and bearings. Bullet and Bullet Ultra wheesets are built in standard and tubeless compatible 2-Way Fit configurations. Availability? Mid-2012. Whither Electronic Campy? According to Campagnolo North America, “We’re waiting for an announcement from Italy.”

Read the entire article here.

Today's Campy Girls

2011-09-30T10:50:00.001-07:00

Enjoy!

The Reviews Are Coming In ...

2011-09-29T21:08:00.001-07:00

.. for Paris Brest Paris: The Movie, our latest video production. Here's what viewers are saying:

"Fantastic. I started watching, sure that it would be just another boring bike video.
I was wrong. Susan & I watched, spellbound. We got a real feel for the event..." Steve, California

"Great, great video. I am so tired after watching and empathizing that I think I will go take a nap. Thanks for the effort to put this together. It is an inspiration" Jim, Massachusetts

"Artfully done and incredibly evocative! Bravo, and thanks for sharing that for we armchair PBPers." Jim, California

"Fantastic!!!!!! I'm so tired from just watching!!!! Really brought it back. Marvelous film."
Jack, California

You can view our video of PBP here.

Paris-Brest-Paris: The Movie is Here!

2011-09-28T14:03:00.001-07:00

We've turned our PBP experience into an epic film in HD video. Check out the world premiere of our Paris Brest movie:

Direct link to the video here, where you can watch in HD.

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Retro Bike Smackdown

2011-09-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

Reader Bruce, from Indianapolis, writes,

I will see your Motobecane and raise you one 1971 Bob Jackson. All campy of course, soon to get a Cinelli stem and handlebars. $765 on eBay from a gentleman in Danville, CA. Rims are not original, and I changed the saddle. 2 owners, no rust! I did the Davis DC in 1976 with an all Campy Clement silks Italvega.

Here's the bike:

Photos from yesterday's Double Century

2011-09-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

Another day, another Campy-equipped double century ... this time, the Knoxville Fall Classic DC in northern California. 202 miles with about 12-14,000 feet of climbing, including the steep ascent of Cobb Mountain.

More photos (and one video) from the ride are here.

P.S. Completing the Knoxville DC kept alive my unbroken string of 22 California Triple Crown double century series--more than any other rider (CTC organizer Chuck Bramwell is one year behind me, with 21 CTC finishes).

Tomorrow's Ride/The PBP Movie

2011-09-23T13:45:00.001-07:00

Coupla items for today:

--If you happen to be in the Solano/Napa/Lake/Yolo county area of Northern California tomorrow, look for the CampyOnlyGuy on our green Rivendell. We'll be riding the Knoxville Fall Classic double century and going for another in our unbroken string of California Triple Crown double century series. (CampyOnlyGuy is the only rider who has completed the CTC every year since its inception in 1990. Check it out here.)

--The PBP Movie is coming ... really! All of the video is together, and we're working on the soundtrack. It's a big effort--more than a half hour of video--and it's taking a long time.

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A New Bike in the Campy Only Stable

2011-09-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

Only a little Campagnolo on this one, but what's there is special: a gold-anodized BMX crankset (mated with a gold-plated chain). This bike is based on a Motobecane Grand Record from the 1970s or 80s--Reynolds 531 tubing, Nervex lugs, and classic old school geometry.

More photos here.

Campagnolo NA Head Honcho in the News

2011-09-13T13:38:00.001-07:00

Tom Kattus, head of Campagnolo North America, is in the news--here's an article and photo (from slowtwitch.com) of Mr. Kattus at the Interbike Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Note the full Italian mojo in effect, including balsamic vinegar, an Italia lanyard, and that cool Campagnolo shirt!

Campagnolo Gets 'Cross at Eurobike

2011-09-09T13:38:00.001-07:00

Scroll down in this article from Road.cc and you'll find a brief mention of Campagnolo's updated cyclocross offerings:

"Component wise Campagnolo were once again displaying their largely ignored CX specific kit, just like last year, with some simple looking cantilevers, and ‘cross specific chainsets, bottom-brackets and wheels that come with better seals than their road counterparts, which makes us wonder why the road bearings are so bad they need beefing up for ‘cross."

A Welcome Sign

2011-09-09T09:13:00.001-07:00

First Paris-pointing sign on this year's edition of Paris-Brest-Paris, just outside the control at Brest.

Last Night at PBP

2011-09-06T10:48:00.001-07:00

The hosts at one of the roadside stops on PBP were taking photos, and got this shot of me on the last night of the ride. The control at Mortange was still some miles away, but I was ready for that part of the ride to be over with.

PBP 2011: Tale of the Tape

2011-09-04T10:43:00.000-07:00

Final computer readings from PBP:

Total Distance of 772 miles (the route is more than 1200 kilometers!)
Maximum speed of 38.9 mph
Average speed of 15.2 mph
Riding time of 50 hours, 36 minutes (plus 28 hours, 35 minutes of time off the bike)

More Electronic News ...

2011-09-01T15:51:00.001-07:00

... from www.BikeRadar.com: http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/eurobike-2011-campagnolos-electronic-drivetrain-nearing-launch-31538

Electronic Campagnolo Coming?

2011-08-31T15:53:00.001-07:00

So say the people at Bike Europe: http://www.bike-eu.com/news/5248/campa-into-electronic-shifting.html

PBP: What It's All About

2011-08-30T15:51:00.001-07:00

Munching on a hot-from-oven croissant at a boulangerie somewhere in the French countryside:

Campy Only's Paris Brest Paris Photos

2011-08-30T11:07:00.001-07:00

Eric Norris, aka CampyOnlyGuy, completed the 1200-kilometer PBP randonneur with a time of 79:11. We're working on a complete video of the experience; in the meantime, here are our photos from the ride.

Tonight's PBP Report

2011-08-20T14:27:00.001-07:00

It's nighttime here in France, and here's a link to my latest tweet: https://twitter.com/campyonlyguy/status/105027392149528577

CampyOnly Reports from PBP

2011-08-20T04:58:00.001-07:00

Don't forget to check out my Twitter feed while I'm in France. Look for me @campyonlyguy, and the hashtags #pbp2011 and #rusapbp

Photo below, the parts bins in the back room at Cycles Alex Singer in Paris. A treasure trove of classic Campy stuff.

First Photos from PBP 2011

2011-08-18T00:56:00.001-07:00

Posted a few photos from the trip thus far: HERE
Working on captions!

We're in France!

2011-08-17T01:36:00.001-07:00

Our Campy-equipped randonneuring bike is together, and the final countdown to Paris-Brest-Paris is on! Follow my tweets from France: twitter.com/#!/campyonlyguy

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Visions of Paris

2011-08-15T08:24:00.001-07:00

We'll be there soon!

YouTube Video

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Today's Reader Bike

2011-08-15T06:49:00.000-07:00

Reader Mark G sent this photo of his "new" bike, a 2007 Scott CR1 built with 2008 Record 10-speed.

Email photos of your bike to the CampyOnlyGuy and share them here with thousands of fellow Campagnolo fans.

PBP Will be Televised ...

2011-08-14T17:43:00.000-07:00

... or at least Web-televised. Your CampyOnlyGuy will be taking photos and videos as long as my memory cards and brain hold out, and transforming them into a documentary of my PBP 2011 experience. Watch for it sometime in September. Videos we made during the runup to PBP:

SFR 200K Brevet (200 kilometers in 90 seconds)
Davis Bike Club 300K Brevet (Riders on the Storm edition)
SFR 400K Brevet
SFR 600K Brevet

Today, we made one last preparation for the filming. We went to San Francisco to rendezvous with Mike Boester of Bad Vision, who brought us one of his new HD video bike-mount cameras. We've tested it out, and it promises to provide great, high-def footage of the ride. (All of the videos above feature on-the-bike footage filmed with Bad Vision's Spark camera, which records in standard def.) Learn more about Mike's products at www.bad-vision.net.

Mike Boester of Bad Vision, with the BadMobile (our name for it, not his)

Campy Only Reports from Paris-Brest-Paris

2011-08-14T08:17:00.001-07:00

Follow the exploits of the CampyOnlyGuy as I travel to France and ride (Campy-equipped) in the 1200-kilometer Paris-Brest-Paris randonee. Watch this blog for reports, or look for me on Twitter: @campyonlyguy I'll be using these Twitter hashtags: #pbp2011 and #rusapbp

My 2007 PBP bike, a fixed gear Rivendell Quickbeam

Campagnolo Announces 2012 Wheel Lineup

2011-08-09T13:19:00.001-07:00

The new lineup includes a new nameplate--"Bullet"--that will offer both tubular and clincher options and a special cyclocross version. The new wheels also offer rims with alloy braking surfaces (see photo below).

More info here.

PBP Prep: Cash!

2011-08-08T14:23:00.001-07:00

Converted some US dollars to Euros today. Almost time to start spending money in France!

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