I received my palms on Campagnolo’s new Tremendous Report 13-speed wi-fi groupset simply forward of the launch final week, and I’ve been driving it on daily basis since. In all weathers too. The rolling however largely flat countryside and quiet roads round the place I stay are the proper place to look at whether or not or not anybody wants an additional ratio out again – cadence is essential spherical right here – and while 13-speed is the headline on the launch of this groupset, I’m simply as eager to see if Campagnolo can get itself again within the race for ‘greatest highway groupset’.
At first look the spec sheet is promising. With the launch of Tremendous Report 13, the Italian model seems to have gone again to its knitting.
It’s revised the pricing. This new pro-level groupset, while not low cost, is now pitched on the identical pricing level as each SRAM and Shimano, relying on the spec you go for. The quoted value for a full groupset is now €4,300 / US$4,750 / £3,900, with out energy.
With a claimed weight of 2445g that may make it the lightest of the massive three, and with pricing now aggressive on the high tier, the remaining query the brand new Tremendous Report has to reply, is whether or not or not it performs, and what’s it prefer to stay with. If it might reply these questions emphatically, with out the hesitation that got here with the final model, Campagnolo could possibly be again within the race. If it might’t, it begs the query, what’s Campagnolo for anymore? That for me, could be an operatic tragedy.
Buckle up, this can be a lengthy overview, but it surely’s not an exaggeration to say this groupset is of existential significance to Campagnolo’s future, and even when it wasn’t, there’s a ton of parts to get by means of.
Cassette and Chainset
Adjustments listed here are minimal, however subjectively, to my eye, that is one of the best wanting chainset available on the market.
The revised BB cups are referred to as Fast Tech and I’m instructed there isn’t any cross compatibility with earlier UT or Protech BB’s. The retainer clip and wavey washer are basically the opposite manner round, however performance is essentially the identical. I think Campagnolo has achieved this to cease any mixing and matching with incorrect chain and rings, now that the chain is narrower. The bearings are nonetheless mounted on the axle. Whereas it’s higher than chancing the alignment by mounting them within the body, it’s nonetheless a ache to your mechanic.
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The hirth hyperlink stays. Ignore anybody that tells you this isn’t a stiff approach to mount a crank. There’s a tube of titanium in there at a wall thickness you wouldn’t discover in a roll cage on a Dakar truck. The axle isn’t going wherever and also you gained’t bend it. In operation the cranks do the job they’re imagined to and the drivetrain runs silently and easily.
That is the primary time I’ve ridden any Tremendous Report product with a 32t cassette out again. That’s information, as a result of even when Frome was killing it up and downhill within the Giro on a Shimano 32t, you continue to couldn’t purchase a collection appropriate 32t cassette for Tremendous Report.
The Wi-fi launch in 2023 shocked everybody by lurching the opposite manner, by not providing a full-size chainset, not even a mid-compact. Each cassette and crankset choices on this new group are extra diverse and wider ranging than all the opposite top-tier teams obtainable out there. That’s a win for Campagnolo, tempered maybe by the absence of a 160mm crank.
The 13-speed model of the Ultratorque crankset is subtly improved during the last mannequin, with it is now trademark carbon end on full show, with the Tremendous Report title subtly utilized to the crank arm.
(Picture credit score: Andy Carr)
The rear derailleur
It is a huge mech. Whereas it’s smaller and higher proportioned than the final one, the present Dura Ace mech nonetheless appears to be like extra compact. Nevertheless, the following model of DA might want to mount batteries within the rear mech. If the XTR launch is something to go by, Shimano gained’t have the sleeker and smaller choice for lengthy, and the brand new Tremendous Report mech does look very particular, albeit much less elegant than EPS.
Should you change below load, the mech responds telepathically, shifting the chain up or down the block with out hesitation in what appears like half a hyperlink, or a blink, and at occasions, an enormous crack. Should you’re used to sneaking round behind your mates on a stealthy Di2 shift with solely a squeak from the motor to provide you away, this method isn’t for you.
Tremendous Report 13’s new rear mech options loads of carbon, and shifts extraordinarily rapidly, with a great deal of precision. The 14 tooth pulleys create a low resistance path for the chain, and ceramic bearings within the high pulley hold it that manner.
(Picture credit score: Andy Carr)
Talking of squeaky motors, when you don’t thoughts an assertive click on because the chain finds it’s gear, however hate the rodent-like squeak and groan of the motor in some electrical mechs there’s manner much less of that right here. And an instantaneous shift.
Should you change gear the best way you must – with mechanical sympathy – the shift could be as quiet as SRAM. I’m unsure it’s ever as quiet shifting as Shimano although, in any circumstances. However, as I’ve alluded to already, I discover a Shimano Di2 system too quiet at occasions, particularly in live performance with their oft don’t-know-you’ve-pressed-it shifter buttons.
There is no such thing as a doubt you’ve modified gear in a Tremendous Report system, and that feeling stays. The shift appears like pulling a set off (urgent the set off on this case) and the response is simply as instantaneous as a gun. There is no such thing as a discernible second the place the shift button doesn’t really feel hardwired to the mech. It’s very fast.
The chain strikes by means of the mech in {smooth}, spooky silence too. The bigger pulleys and ceramic bearings within the high pulley hold all of it feeling very luxurious and tremendous environment friendly. There’s additionally a flowery black-chrome-esque coating, which can be contributing to the eerily silent working.
The entrance derailleur
That is merely significantly better than earlier wired variations of EPS with zero chain drag to the following ring, and a big enchancment on the outgoing mannequin. I couldn’t make the chain drag on an up or down shift in anyone place on the entrance or rear cassette. The chain felt below management in each shift. No delay, no snagging, no drag, only a properly managed, but quick, shift, with no fuss.
The opposite huge information on the entrance mech is that it’s now not the identical measurement as your Garmin. The battery is fastened on the entrance, giving extra tyre clearance, they are saying. ‘Leg clearance’ would have been extra sincere given their final effort. The brand new design offers loads of area now, and it’s inline with the opposite model’s mechs by way of profile.
Design of the entrance mech is now far more in line with a groupset at this degree, and functionally is excellent.
(Picture credit score: Andy Carr)
Charging and battery life
One factor I haven’t but talked about is charging. Batteries could be charged on or off the bike, with a magnetic cost port on the battery itself. The engagement with the charger is by way of a evenly fitted magnetic connection.
Dura-Ace has a horrendous charging interface that always doesn’t keep in place. No hassle right here but with Campagnolo’s nearly magnetic resolution, however certainly USB-C is due on the following generations of all these things?
While the claimed charging charges are class main, and it does certainly cost tremendous quick, the rear mech appears to be thirsty on the juice. A long term overview will enable me to evaluate battery life extra absolutely. I think it simply prefers a full cost, slightly than a blast of electrons right here and there, when it’s close to one of many few sockets that’s not already charging one thing else!
The shifters
I can’t discuss shifting with out speaking about the way it’s actuated, as soon as once more thank goodness, by way of a Campy thumbshifter. It’s again, reimagined, and superb certainly, operable from a variety of helpful angles.
One small gripe is you can unintentionally shift gears when braking and shifting on the identical time, akin to when approaching a junction. Your palms are loaded up below braking at this level, slowing the bike, with fingers wrapped on the brake lever. There’s a whole lot of hand for the set as much as accommodate on this second and you’ll fudge a shift within the incorrect route. Keep in mind I do have measurement 12 palms. When you’re conscious it’s there and also you’ve made provision for it, the thumb shifter by no means actually feels in the best way nonetheless.
The carbon shifters are premium in each appears to be like and ergonomics, the paddle shift is clear right here, with a cutaway space and permits discovering it with finger suggestions each straightforward, and instinctive.
(Picture credit score: Andy Carr)
When it comes to the perform when pressed, each thumb shifter and paddle have a brief throw, giving no sense of latency, and on the identical time requiring solely a lightweight contact. That’s fairly a intelligent combine, particularly given the haptic response of the shift button is evident and communicative, and this helps make shifting really feel direct, and deliberate. This was my favorite facet of the system, and the buttons really feel nice, too. Maintain the button for only a whereas longer and you’ll dispatch three gears at a time or as many gears as you want directly. All of the buttons on the ergopower lever are configurable within the app, and there’s additionally a neat ‘one hand’ mode, so you possibly can management each mechs from one lever if wanted.
(Picture credit score: Andy Carr)
The paddle shift lever on the again of the brake lever is a surprise of ergonomics by itself. Regardless of the place your palms are positioned on the hoods, the tip of your ring finger can discover the within fringe of the comparatively massive actual property given to the paddle. The within edge tells you you’re there, in a manner that neither SRAM or Shimano can; the previous has a bigger however smooth-ish paddle, whereas the Di2 paddles could be fiddly to find. Just like the thumb shift haptics, you additionally know you’ve pressed the button, not due to an arduous click on or lengthy throw although. All of it simply feels environment friendly, and you understand you’ve achieved it.
The mode buttons and new ‘Sensible Button’ are all straightforward sufficient to function and fall properly. I didn’t arrange the mode button up, as I didn’t have a head unit mount for the bar on my take a look at bike, however it might theoretically management your head unit, reply a name, or shift tracks in your Spotify. Or any variety of different features. This will probably be useful for some and brings it into line with opponents.
The hoods and brake levers
Campagnolo is aware of rather a lot about ergonomics and the brand new ergopower lever within the SR13 system is its greatest work but. The fabric used for the hoods feels delicate. It’s tactility could possibly be an indication of weak point, but it surely’s completely not if earlier variations (which use the identical materials) are something to go by. It feels nice, appears to be like higher than the opposite fundamental gamers, and gives a great deal of grip.
The brand new brake lever kicks out significantly, clearing the centre line of the bar, leaving what appears like class-leading clearance to your fingers. The earlier variations, and Di2 does lure fingers, manner earlier than the brake caliper is totally on at occasions. With this design and the brief throw on the brake lever, that is manner much less probably. The levers themselves look very elegant, really feel good, and so they’re adjustable for attain.
The tip of the hood is angled in. Campagnolo says that the design is UCI authorized however I may care much less about that facet – the place it affords your palms is good. It leaves your wrist fully impartial, in the identical place it might be if hung by your facet within the breeze. Fitters rejoice. It is extremely comfy certainly.
The ‘tipped in’ hoods are UCI authorized and create a impartial place for the wrist, which may cut back fatigue and definitely boosts consolation.
(Picture credit score: Andy Carr)
The additional gear
Okay, okay. I do know, nobody was asking for extra gears. Nevertheless, far past it being a advertising stunt to promote just a few extra groupsets and usher in one other new normal, there are use instances the place it’s clearly actually useful. And to attempt to placate the cynics, I’ll take just a few moments to elucidate why.
Cadence is usually depending on discovering the suitable gear. Some individuals don’t be concerned about cadence and revel in their driving no much less after all, however for people who get pleasure from highway craft, the additional ratio is useful, particularly on a 32.
Essentially, the draw back of working a 32t cassette is larger jumps and that downside is best managed right here with 13 ratios. In actual fact, it’s eradicated. For a quick TT model trip over rolling hills, or endurance work on a fair smaller cassette the place sustaining a constant energy output is crucial, there isn’t any draw back to having the additional ratio. Particularly when the shift feels this quick and addictive.
(Picture credit score: Andy Carr)
The App – My Campy 3.0
As soon as arrange, you shouldn’t want the app an excessive amount of. That is excellent news, as a result of it’s not nice as it’s. Having skilled preliminary arrange points with the entrance mech, I went into the app to search for adjustment, standing, and assess arrange. I couldn’t. Clicking on the entrance mech icon serves up the rear mech menu. That is clearly a bug, however this isn’t forgivable in what isn’t a pre-launch model of the app.
Functionally, you possibly can entry chainline switches, and shift help (suppose Syncro shift) and test your battery ranges and assign buttons as you would like.
The brakes
The brakes are nonetheless good. There wasn’t a lot wanted altering right here, however they’ve discovered some titanium screws to drop a little bit of weight (7g) and made some adjustments to the brake pad, while including a sintered choice for higher efficiency within the winter. I rode in moist and dry on the ‘normal’ pads, and Campagnolo’s brake system continues to be excellent. Really feel is nice on the lever, with all of the modulation and energy that you just want.
Titanium {hardware} in what was already a really competent set of excessive efficiency highway disc brakes
(Picture credit score: Andy Carr)
Verdict
Some individuals won’t ever select Campagnolo. Shimano gives a conservative, dependable selection that’s onerous to disregard, that’s why it’s so dominant.
With this new groupset nonetheless, we now haven’t simply an unique choice to your bike transmission, however a rational selection – not with out fault – however an alternate that’s now about subjective variations not compromise.
With this new groupset, pricing and weight is now aggressive. Shifting isn’t as luxuriant and silent as Di2, however Tremendous Report 13 is wickedly quick – it feels quicker than anything I’ve ridden – and shifts with an aggressive and decided motion, that’s addictive and gives one thing undeniably aggressive and excessive performing, however totally different.
Campagnolo has remembered that purchasing and proudly owning Campagnolo components isn’t just about efficiency, however about how they make you’re feeling. Now, removed from confused, as some elements of Campagnolo design has left me feeling within the latest previous, this new groupset makes you’re feeling such as you made a completely legitimate selection to make use of an alternate transmission that’s totally different, not worse.
Sure, the app wants work. They will in all probability repair that with a firmware replace. Sure, it’s probably fiddlier to arrange. However, the {hardware} and electronics in the principle parts are as soon as once more world class, and have a look at it.
The laurels of victory have been hung concerning the neck of Campagnolo parts a lot in World Tour biking, that they featured them on their eightieth anniversary brand. However simply because the Italians created the custom of awarding laurel wreaths to the victor, additionally they warned of the risks of resting on them.
With Tremendous Report 13, it’s clearly considering straight once more. If it might trickle this addictive shifting platform down, with out dropping the refinement or pace, Campagnolo may lastly really feel prefer it’s not simply related once more, however a rational and thrilling selection for far more individuals.
Campagnolo has made a superb groupset. Now it simply wants to repair the app.