Great article on Campag..

mp31

http://www.bicycling.com/news/featured-stories/italian-job?page=0,0

Lumen

Like most of Bicycling's output, so much bullshít.

Lorenzo Taxis, Campagnolo's global marketing manager, described the power of the Campagnolo name: "It is a soul," he said. "It is a soul contained by a brand."

That's a heavy burden. Perhaps that's why, long after Campagnolo must have realized there was a market for electronic shifting, it continued to refine its product in those secret rooms while Shimano offered its version for sale. At Campagnolo, there is a sense that the company must weigh each product against the culture of cycling itself. "We must ask whether this product is notdemocratic, let's say," Lerrj Piazza told me. "It is a social thing. It's not logical to put a product on the market which is not touchable by the people" because of its high price.

Campagnolo Super Record EPS 11 Speed Rear Derailleur, €628.94 from Wiggle.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/campagnolo-super-record-eps-11-speed-rear-derailleur/

mp31

Lumen wrote: »

Like most of Bicycling's output, so much bullshít.



Campagnolo Super Record EPS 11 Speed Rear Derailleur, €628.94 from Wiggle.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/campagnolo-super-record-eps-11-speed-rear-derailleur/

Ah but look at the top features... waterproof and multi-shifting!

AstraMonti

In fairness SR EPS 11 is an elitist groupset, you have to be a bit of a muppet/weight weenie to buy it. Chorus/Record is exactly the same with a very slight impact on weight.

Lumen

AstraMonti wrote: »

In fairness SR EPS 11 is an elitist groupset, you have to be a bit of a muppet/weight weenie to buy it. Chorus/Record is exactly the same with a very slight impact on weight.

Sure, I have Chorus for this reason. However, using "democracy" as an excuse for why your electronic groupset is late and then releasing a €700 derailleur is just pathetic.

I'd rather they just admitted that they hadn't got it right yet and that time and patience would vindicate them compared to more "dynamic" competitors. See SRAM "schleckgate" and hydro disc disasters.

AstraMonti

Just because they have a hefty price, you are asking now something that noone does. How often do you see a company acknowledging they re late on the market? When SR11 was out as a mechanical group the derailleur was triple the price of DA. I don't think you can give a reason in a specialists market.

Btw, I am not really disagreeing with you, I think it's a total ridiculous price. But if I could afford it, I would buy it, because I belong in the muppet/weight weenie category.

Lumen

AstraMonti wrote: »

Just because they have a hefty price, you are asking now something that noone does. How often do you see a company acknowledging they re late on the market?

I'm not expecting them to admit they are late to market. I'm criticising them for making up incredible excuses.

But mostly I'm expecting the journalist to apply some critical faculties rather than just producing a puff piece, which is what this is.

Bicycling is a total joke of a publication.