Campag Power-Shift and Power-Torque - experiences?

doozerie

I’m considering replacing parts of my existing Chorus 9speed groupset so that I can run a wider gear range (technical I’m currently limited to 39-26 as my lowest gear, 39-28 works too but at the expense of losing the smallest cogs while in the small chainring). I’m thinking of the budget option of going with (mechanical) Athena 11speed ergolevers, chainset, and derailleurs.

I’ve never used Athena though and there are two differences in particular that would make me hesitate:

* Power-Shift - Athena can only downshift by one gear per click. I’m not entirely sure how often I rely on the ability to do multiple downshifts on my other Campag groupsets but I suspect the lack of the option may annoy me. It’s a personal preference thing I know but I’d be curious to know whether people who have used both have been bothered by this limitation in practice?

* Power-Torque - Anecdotal evidence suggests that it is horrible, I’m not sure how much of the annoyance is because of the expense of having to buy a new dedicated too to change the bearings. Have those that have used Power-Torque found it to be as bad as these anecdotes suggest?
I believe there may be some of the older Ultra-Torque Athena chainsets available online, so that remains an option, but I’m curious to know how frustrating, or not, people have found Power-Torque to be.

Chips Lovell

I've used all the above.

Powershift feels much the same shifting down, i.e. up the cogs. I missed the upshifting. More the feel of the shift than the sweep through the cogs actually. Don't get me wrong though. Like all Campag stuff, Athena works incredibly well.

I used to hate Power Torque. I don't so much now. Its major drawback is that you need additional tools (e.g. bearing pullers and a 14mm allen socket). I did think it was an utter b**tard to get the cranks off until I realised I was trying to pull them off without first removing a washer. I still think Ultra Torque is hands down the best bottom bracket design out there, but I wouldn't be put off by Power Torque any more (it's certainly better than the Rotor jobbie I have on my training bike now).

If I was on a budget and had to chose between fancy shifting or fancy cranks, I'd get Chorus shifters and rear mech and everything else Athena.

crumliniano

I put Athena on my winter bike a couple of years ago. I got Chorus shifters though because I think I would have really missed the multiple upshifts that I was used to with Chorus on my other bike.
I also wondered about the power-torque/ultra-torque thing and managed to pick up Athena ultra-shift cranks on e-bay. The first generation or two of Athena were ultra-torque.
I think buying groupsets whole is generally cheaper than bit-by-bit but with some ebay loitering and you might be lucky and could avoid power-torque too - that is if you don't mind not being on the latest version of everything.