Campagnolo Chorus 12 Speed "Sub-Compact"--Jaegher Test Mule

[Tim Porter]

So I'm not sure this warrants an entire thread, but here goes. I ordered in a Chorus 12 speed mechanical rim brake group in order to give the 12 speed/sub-compact set up a try. Campy released the Chorus groups recently and they offered a sub-compact setup with a 48/32 crankset and an 11-32 cassette. In addition, you can order an extra set of three bigger cogs for the cassette that gives you an 11-34. (So when desired, you just pop in the three bigger cogs and you have even lower gearing.)

My blue Jaegher is a good candidate. It spent the last winter on the Wahoo trainer and needed a good overhaul anyway, so I spent part of the last days watching the TdF and changing over from Campy 11 SR to the new Chorus 12. Today I took my first ride and initial indications are very good.

[IMG][/IMG]

I'm pretty ecumenical when it comes to gearing and I have bikes with 50/34, 52/36 and 53/39. 48/32, however, is LOW, but I found I could adapt pretty easily. The lower range, with the 32-32 low was pretty cool for this old guy. Cruising in the 48 ring in the middle of the cassette worked just fine. I may wind up being a convert (and I know some of you are already there).

This particular Jaegher climbs and descends beautifully and fits me just right. I have my hot s__t tubulars on it for this experiment because that's what I had that wasn't currently on another bike. I can see this setup working out as a "climbing" bike; even a European trip bike. [This one's a road bike, however, not the gravel setup that someone might use this gearing on--it's limited to tires smaller than about 25mm.]

Installation was pretty straight forward for someone who knows Campy, though they have not released any info on the wrinkles necessary to install the sub-compact setup yet. The new 12 speed shifters have a more pronounced and sculpted shape that's really comfortable. Shifting action reminds me more of the 10 speed than the current 11 speed (of which I have many).

Note the curvature:

[IMG][/IMG]

I'll report back when I have some more data points, but kudos to Campag so far. Tim

[Tim Porter]

Mods, if you can downsize my photos, I'd appreciate it! BTW, the Chorus calipers weren't in yet, so I cleared with my mechanic guru that the older SR calipers would work and they were perfect today on the first ride. Thanks, Tim

[Malinois]

Good info, thanks!

I’m extremely interested in the 48-32 11/29 combo as it looks like you can pretty much have single tooth jumps from 11-17 on the big then either drop into the larger gaps or switch to the little and have more single tooth changes until you get into real climbing situations.

It also has a larger overall gear range than my old Ultegra 6500 9-Speed triple (52-42-30) with a 12/27. I felt like I could climb walls on that thing.

[Elefantino]

Tim,

This is great! Thanks for the mini review. These old legs will probably follow suit at some point!

[NoMoreParagon]

Originally Posted by Tim Porter

So I'm not sure this warrants an entire thread, but here goes. I ordered in a Chorus 12 speed mechanical rim brake group in order to give the 12 speed/sub-compact set up a try. Campy released the Chorus groups recently and they offered a sub-compact setup with a 48/32 crankset and an 11-32 cassette. In addition, you can order an extra set of three bigger cogs for the cassette that gives you an 11-34. (So when desired, you just pop in the three bigger cogs and you have even lower gearing.)



My blue Jaegher is a good candidate. It spent the last winter on the Wahoo trainer and needed a good overhaul anyway, so I spent part of the last days watching the TdF and changing over from Campy 11 SR to the new Chorus 12. Today I took my first ride and initial indications are very good.



[IMG][/IMG]



I'm pretty ecumenical when it comes to gearing and I have bikes with 50/34, 52/36 and 53/39. 48/32, however, is LOW, but I found I could adapt pretty easily. The lower range, with the 32-32 low was pretty cool for this old guy. Cruising in the 48 ring in the middle of the cassette worked just fine. I may wind up being a convert (and I know some of you are already there).



This particular Jaegher climbs and descends beautifully and fits me just right. I have my hot s__t tubulars on it for this experiment because that's what I had that wasn't currently on another bike. I can see this setup working out as a "climbing" bike; even a European trip bike. [This one's a road bike, however, not the gravel setup that someone might use this gearing on--it's limited to tires smaller than about 25mm.]



Installation was pretty straight forward for someone who knows Campy, though they have not released any info on the wrinkles necessary to install the sub-compact setup yet. The new 12 speed shifters have a more pronounced and sculpted shape that's really comfortable. Shifting action reminds me more of the 10 speed than the current 11 speed (of which I have many).



Note the curvature:



[IMG][/IMG]



I'll report back when I have some more data points, but kudos to Campag so far. Tim

I love the review thank you! I am also v eager to try it on.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tim Porter]

Thanks all.

Some tech factoids:

1. If you want to go this route, be sure to consider whether the smaller chainrings will be compatible with whatever FD mount you may have. The Jaegher has a brazed on fitting and I had to . . . modify it a bit with a file (a few mm) in order for the FD not to be too high above the chainrings. I seem to have gotten it just right because the FD shifts very well. I need to futz around with the fine tuning a bit more, but that's pretty normal. The 12 speed FDs operate a bit differently from the 11 speed FDs, btw, with the ability to trim the FD inward with one click when you're in the bigger cogs in back, and I don't have that down perfectly yet. If you have a band around the seat tube for your FD you'd be golden.

2. Chain length on the mechanical 12 speed for Record and Super Record is governed by chain stay length. Neither Record nor SR have the 48/32 combo, however, and it may come out that you need to shorten a new chain by another link in order for the RD to have enough tension. They do not mention any of this yet in Campy's manuals, btw, so I'm flying a little blind and using the R and SR chain length. But in the small/small combination the RD it's seemingly impossible to get the RD adjusted so that the cage very slightly points down, i.e., with the rear idler wheel lower than the top one. I may be missing something so will be fine tuning this.

More to come, I'm sure. Tim

[AngryScientist]

Nice.

Smaller chainrings are catching on like wildfire. i have a bunch of bikes set-up 46/30 and 48/34 rigt now. as you saw, it allows me to cruise in the big ring 90% of the time in the middle of the cassette. i never used the smaller end of the cassette when i was using a 50 or 52 tooth ring, so this just opens up the range for me. i have never wanted more speed than the 46/11 gives me either.

good looking bike Tim!

[jamesdak]

What cadence is everyone spinning with this setup? What speed do you cruise?

I've got a 50/34 11-34T 11 speed setup on my Vitus and it seems like on the flats I'm always in the smallest 3 cogs, don't like that. Seems this would be worse with a road bike and those in the middle of the cassette must be turning crazy high cadences or something. Just curious.

[AngryScientist]

Originally Posted by jamesdak

I've got a 50/34 11-34T 11 speed setup on my Vitus and it seems like on the flats I'm always in the smallest 3 cogs,.

you must be way faster than me james!

how fast would you say you typically cruise at on the flats?

below are speeds in the 50x12 combo for cadences (ever 10 rpm, starting at 30 to 130), so if your typical cadence is 80, you're cruising at 26 mph?

50x12 9.85 13.13 16.41 19.69 22.98 26.26 29.54 32.82 36.10 39.39 42.67

[Tim Porter]

Nick, that was my reaction, too. jamesdak you are one quick dude!

[jamesdak]

Originally Posted by Tim Porter

Nick, that was my reaction, too. jamesdak you are one quick dude!

Nah, I think it's this bike and the cassette maybe. Other bikes setup with 50/34s work better for me.

[oldpotatoe]

3. With the FD cable adjuster screwed to it's minimum length and the LH lever set in lowest-gear position, pull the front gear cable pretty much as tight as you comfortably can and secure correctly at the pinch bolt - pay attention to the small shoulder that the cable has to pass over.

Probably being way presumptuous but I adjust inner limit, when in small ring and biggest cog(lowest gear)..so chain just tickles the FD inner plate, THEN attach cable TIGHT, then turn inner limit screw out a wee bit..you get that .5mm clearance plus the front der cable gets tighter..makes for no need for those daffy inline cable adjusters.

Then big ring, smallest cog(highest gear) and the outer limit screw just touching the limit..not cranked down..then you'll get the '3clicks, to big ring'..

[Dave]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

Probably being way presumptuous but I adjust inner limit, when in small ring and biggest cog(lowest gear)..so chain just tickles the FD inner plate, THEN attach cable TIGHT, then turn inner limit screw out a wee bit..you get that .5mm clearance plus the front der cable gets tighter..makes for no need for those daffy inline cable adjusters.

Then big ring, smallest cog(highest gear) and the outer limit screw just touching the limit..not cranked down..then you'll get the '3clicks, to big ring'..

I've done the same until this latest generation of FDs. I finally gave in and used the Campy provided inline cable adjuster on my new frame that has no tension adjuster. My old bike has an adjuster on the frame, so it works fine.

I haven't found the Campy tool to be necessary. Just set the height over the tallest teeth on the crank and eyeball the cage to be parallel to the big ring.

[jamesdak]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

you must be way faster than me james!

how fast would you say you typically cruise at on the flats?

below are speeds in the 50x12 combo for cadences (ever 10 rpm, starting at 30 to 130), so if your typical cadence is 80, you're cruising at 26 mph?

Yeah, this bike is weird as other 50/34's I seem to ride at the same speed but more in the middle of the cassette. I don't have a cadence sensor on this one, the curse of rotating through about 25 bikes, LOL! It's probably how the rear cassette is built.



I do cruise on the flats in the 19-21 mph range alot through my rides with a normal top end of 24 if I'm not doing speed work. This is on my daily 25 mile route where I'll finish with a 19 mph avg if working honestly, higher if really going for it, and in the 18's if a chill day. Of course throw in the winds and all bets are off.

My cadence is typically in the 80-90 range from years past. I really haven't been paying much attention to it this year as I work back into shape.

[Tim Porter]

Thanks Nick. I'm beginning to see the allure . . . .