The 'Un-Official' Campagnolo Ekar thread

[Dave]

There's a big difference between a shimano 10-45 spacing and a sram 10-36. I wouldn't want a 10-12-14-16-18-21-24-28-32-36-40-45 instead of 10-11-12-13-15-17-19-21-24-28-32-36,

https://www.sram.com/en/life/stories...es-for-courses

[mistermo]

Originally Posted by Dave

There's a big difference between a shimano 10-45 spacing and a sram 10-36. I wouldn't want a 10-12-14-16-18-21-24-28-32-36-40-45 instead of 10-11-12-13-15-17-19-31-24-28-32-36,

1X! Responding to sparky's comment that he was looking for something between 10-36 and 10-50, which 10-45 is. Agree 10-36 is better, until it's not. (Hills!). Ekar's 9-36, with one more speed, seems pretty good too.

That 19-31 jump, though! Ouch!

[Antti5]

Has anyone else had problems with the chain dropping with Ekar?

I'm asking because during my first 600 km with Ekar I've had it happen twice. Both times were on bumpy descents where I stopped pedalling when going over the biggest bumps. Chain bounced right off.

It could be just bad luck, but I haven't had this happen in similar places with my mountain bike where I have SRAM GX. It's as if the Ekar chainring doesn't hold the chain quite as well. Obviously it's Campagnolo's first attempt on a narrow-wide chainring, so maybe it's less than perfect...

Maybe I just need to install a chain guide.

[weiwentg]

Since the Ekar thread got bumped, check out the custom thumb levers on Caleb Ewan's bike.



The Velonews article says that they're only available for Campagnolo sponsored pros. I wonder if Ekar's C-shaped lever will make it to Campy's other groups, though. Like I said, the Ekar lever looks a bit odd at first, but I bet I'd appreciate it. Personally, I could hit 10s Campy's thumb button fine from the drops when I was riding that, but I bet there are people who would appreciate this even if they don't race.

[Antti5]

I think the Ekar thumb lever is very well thought-out.

While I never had any real problems reaching the thumb levers with my Chorus and Record levers, the Ekar shifter IS easier to reach from the drops. And the new shape has no drawbacks other than looking a bit silly.

Also, I know several riders who otherwise loved Campagnolo levers, but switched to Shimano only because they found the thumb lever too difficult to reach from the drops.

[dpmackey]

I very much appreciate the thumb lever on Ekar.

My previous experience of using Campagnolo for cxclocross or otherwise offroad - I find it much easier to nail the thumbshifter then in the drops.

I am having issues in getting my Ekar derailleur to be silent / setup through the range. Particularly in the middle gears.

Anyone have any tips - only video with detailed setup was Campagnolos own but I didnt find it exceedingly helpful.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by dpmackey

I very much appreciate the thumb lever on Ekar.

My previous experience of using Campagnolo for cxclocross or otherwise offroad - I find it much easier to nail the thumbshifter then in the drops.

I am having issues in getting my Ekar derailleur to be silent / setup through the range. Particularly in the middle gears.

Anyone have any tips - only video with detailed setup was Campagnolos own but I didnt find it exceedingly helpful.

Rear der hanger alignment. Long enough, cut cleanly, smooth der housing.

[alvinholbrook]

Yeah. Knock on wood but I haven't had a chain drop yet, even on some pretty rocky and rooted downhill tracks. I've been using my bike on all the same MTB trails I was riding my XC bike on, and Ekar hasn't skipped a beat.

Maybe it is a chain length thing?

[Antti5]

Originally Posted by alvinholbrook

Maybe it is a chain length thing?

The chain is as short as it can be. I have 42 in front and 44 in the rear, and shorten the chain from 118 to 114 links. Shifting is perfect.

I ride plenty of rocky downhills, and I tend to stop pedaling when going over the worst bumps. So the chain might not be in tension when the bike gets bounced around. Part of this is likely my somewhat unpolished riding style...

But so far it's happened just twice over about a 1000 kilometers, so maybe I've just been unlucky.

[dpmackey]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

Rear der hanger alignment. Long enough, cut cleanly, smooth der housing.

Thanks - all checks out but will try further adjustment and play with the B screw.

[Gibran]

For anyone waiting to buy or upgrade their Enve (with the Enve hubs) or Mavic wheels with the ID360 freehub, there is a N3W freehub now available. Not sure why Enve isn’t selling it directly yet but I got mine in 3 days from Europe and now am rolling G23s on my Ekar bike.

https://www.gambacicli.com/en/mavic-...o-n3w-13s.html

[morrisond]

Just a little tidbit from a UK Campy Tech Specialist.

Sorry if this has been posted before.

My question to him when I was contemplating putting Mech brakes on a new Rando bike I'm having built so the fork could have flexier blades (I've since decided on EKAR 1x Hydro).

"Have you looked into the theoretical possibility of gutting a Mechanical Brake 12S lever and putting Ekar guts into it to get 1x13 Mechanical Brake?"

His reply which took a few months as he has been super busy "It looks possible, I've pulled all the bits out and transplanted them but I haven't had an opportunity to test the system."

Interesting.

Has anyone ever confirmed whether or not the EKAR RD moves the same amount as 12S for the same amount of cable pull? Then you might be able to get 2x13 as well with a 12S RD or 2x13 might not be that far away from Campy itself.

I've also asked whether or not you can replace the EKAR Thumb Button with a 12S one and remove the pin and get multi-shift. That is what I want.

I'll post if I hear back.

[spaghettispokes]

Anyone have issues with the clutch getting stuck? On upshift it starts getting really noisy and more vibration than usual. I contacted Campy but they don't always get back to me. I couldn't find any info on servicing the clutch or removing the cover...

I can manually nudge it or downshift and the noise goes away. It's not pulleys touching cogs and everything is shifting well, and derailleur shifts well. I checked the hanger and torqued everything to spec. The unit is functioning just really loud. I realize a clutch will make some noise when it's working, but this is beyond that.

[Black Dog]

Originally Posted by morrisond

Just a little tidbit from a UK Campy Tech Specialist.

Sorry if this has been posted before.

My question to him when I was contemplating putting Mech brakes on a new Rando bike I'm having built so the fork could have flexier blades (I've since decided on EKAR 1x Hydro).

"Have you looked into the theoretical possibility of gutting a Mechanical Brake 12S lever and putting Ekar guts into it to get 1x13 Mechanical Brake?"

His reply which took a few months as he has been super busy "It looks possible, I've pulled all the bits out and transplanted them but I haven't had an opportunity to test the system."

Interesting.

Has anyone ever confirmed whether or not the EKAR RD moves the same amount as 12S for the same amount of cable pull? Then you might be able to get 2x13 as well with a 12S RD or 2x13 might not be that far away from Campy itself.

I've also asked whether or not you can replace the EKAR Thumb Button with a 12S one and remove the pin and get multi-shift. That is what I want.

I'll post if I hear back.

If the pull ratios are the same then all you may need is the Ekar RD. Run it on a 12 speed cassette with a 2x up front.

[Architectjock]

I am about to give up on Ekar. Does anyone know if they or someone will make a 36t chainring or will they come up with a larger cassette like Sram? I need more gear on gravel. I'm not twenty anymore...