One of the more ‘important’ products we’ve had delivered this week at PBK is the new 2010/2011 Campagnolo Centaur 2011 Power-Torque Groupset.
Campagnolo is a name and also a guarantee:
“Incredible construction quality and obsessive attention to detail make Campagnolo the indisputable point of reference in the world of cycling. The tireless work of the Campagnolo R&D engineers has always aimed at creating products that are constantly improved in terms of performance and durability over time.”
I don’t want to bore you, but Campagnolo have been producing components since 1933 when Tulio Campagnolo came up with the idea of quick releases and derailleurs, all of which we take for granted nowadays.
As Shimano forged ahead with their indexing of gears and STI’s (of the gear lever sense) Campagnolo started making wheels, came up with Ergopower and then started using the carbon and Ti which we’re used to seeing now – and isn’t it beautiful!
In 2010/2011 the company is keeping up with the times and has a full range of components used by Pro teams and riders around the world. This new Power-Torque is their latest
Campagnolo Power-Torque.
Designed with one precise objective: to offer a 10 speed groupset with the best shifting performance in its class. To do this, the 2011 Centaur features a new crankset with Power Torque System bottom bracket and rear derailleur of 11 speed derivation.
The new chainset has a full length axle rather than the previous two axles which met in the middle. Similar I suppose to Shimano, but Campagnolo’s version requires just one 12mm bolt to fasten the crank arm on. This chainset also requires the new Power-Torque BB cups. The chainset comes with the drive-side bearing pre-attached and the NDS bearing is included with the cups.
Completely new and redesigned by the Campy Tech Lab engineers according to a precise objective: to create a crankset that is easy to maintain, lightweight and that retains the same U and Q factors of its ”big brother” Ultra-Torque. Engineers wanted to do more; i.e. to drastically improve shifting performance.
In order to achieve this demanding objective, the gears of the Centaur crankset have been completely redesigned – the eight sectors dedicated to the upward movement of the chain, the two for the downward movement and the new MPS Micro Precision Shifting machining of the teeth make it possible to shift rapidly and without any hesitation. The ultra-high quality bearings, positioned in the most extreme points of the central axle, guarantee the maximum smoothness and perfect efficiency of the pedalling over time. The new Power Torque System is the ideal solution for the Campagnolo 10 speed drivetrains, with high rigidity of the cranks and chainrings along with an extremely limited weight, to achieve the most efficient power transmission.
New 2011 Graphics.
A noticeable change to this new 2011 is the graphics:
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Also launched are the brakeset, cassette, chain and front derailleur.
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Just to assure you of the weight we publish, here is the compact chainset on our scales: 640g. Competitive and the black anodised chainrings look awesome.
At around £700 for a groupset this is no entry-level version, but for this you are getting carbon shifters and chainset while also getting the latest 2011 components which you won’t see out on the road for a long time!
