Originally Posted by Vamoots58
Been thinking about trying Etap for a while. Having been a 100% Campy guy for 15'sh years, it took me a while to pull the trigger. I am having a new custom Ti bike built, so perfect opportunity to try Etap while I'm waiting (and I can have the new frame built without any need for (gear) cable guides or EPS holes.
Couple of considerations for me, I am not abandoning my collection of campy compatible wheels, so gonna be a mix of components. I ended up with AXS RD/FD/Shifters, Campy 12-speed cassette, KMC 12-speed chain. I have been riding Rotor Q-Rings for several years and was hoping to be able to continue. Had I thought about (how many things that start that way turn out well !?!?!) I would have realized that the AXS FD was built for a max large chainring of 50T. So even my 'smallish' 50T Q is more like 52T at its max measurement. Needless to say, that didn't work, but I found a crazy deal online for a new Red 22 C2 crankset, so using that.
Found the pairing to be the ultimate in ease, literally. The installation was fine, albeit it is a bit 'fiddly' compared to setting up EPS. Micro-adjusting the RD takes some time. To be honest was a little worried, because on the stand, I could never get the set-up to be quiet, always felt slightly out of 'tune'.
Got it outside today for a quickie 25 mile test run, and it was really great. First, the drivetrain is SILENT, way quieter than my EPS was. I'll attribute some of that to brand new components, with zero wear, we'll see if that persists. Any worry of compatibility went out the window on a short, but really steep little pitch, up out of saddle, and super smooth. I wish just once, the component companies would be straight with the compatibility issue, wishful thinking I know, but... I found the shifting to be quick and certain. The shifting paddles have a good feel when shifting (realizing it's electronic). I did have couple of missed shifts, all attributable to me getting used to right for up, left for down, but it was getting more automatic at the end of the ride. I think the cranks have a narrower Q-factor than my Rotors, which I noticed Can't say I felt a big change going back to round rings, although one longish (for me) one mile climb didn't feel as smooth.
All in all really happy with AXS (albeit after one ride). If you're considering going that way, c'mon in the water's fine!!
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