Alternating between Shimano and Campy--how hard?

[FMS rider]

I have Shimano on my current 3 bikes, but want Campy on my upcoming Kirk. Since I would be switching back and forth, I would like to hear from others who do that; in particular how long did it take you to reach the point that the transition became automatic --particularly if you started going both ways at 50+ ?

Lew

[justinf]

Hey Lew--I think you'll be fine, I switch back and forth (+ sram now) all the time and while I may miss a shift every now and then, reaching for a thumb button that's not there, etc, it's really minimal. It's bike parts and worth the fun.

[Ray]

I used to have Shimano on one bike and Campy on another. I'd occasionally reach for the wrong place within the first couple blocks of leaving home, before everything readjusted in my limited brain. But it was never a problem. Now, I have Shimano brifters on one bike, index barcons on another, friction thumb shifters on another, and two different shifters on my Brompton that don't even remotely resemble each other, let alone any other shifters I've used. And it all works. I think if you had 10 Campy bikes and one Shimano bike, the odd time you got on Shimano it might take a couple of minutes to readjust, but if you have two different systems and use them both a fair amount, its just not gonna be a problem.

Once you use a particular system, its like riding a bike....

-Ray

[ergott]

Shimano on the cross and Campy on the road. The shape of the hoods is so different that my hand know what to do. No worries.

-Eric

[92degrees]

Shimano on the cross and Campy on the road. The shape of the hoods is so different that my hand know what to do. No worries.

-Eric

Ditto. Never been a problem. Even on the same day.

[three chord wonder]

+1

Enjoy the difference.

[FMS rider]

Thanks very much to all for the convincing feedback.

When I returned to biking after 2 decades as a rock-climbing addict followed by a few years of new-parenthood and associated career-building, I wanted Campy but the $$s were scarce and I couldn't handle being treated like a stupid old man by most of the staff at what I thought was the only Campy dealer in town (even though I was still a virtual kid at 50), so I went with Shimano and stayed there for the past 13 years. I love my new DA-equipped Legend for its amazing comfort, and get great pleasure from staring at the details including the perfect workmanship and paint, even though the overall look was a compromise for the sake of comfort. However I am now ready for something completely different.

My plan for the Kirk at present is a traditional look including straight seat stays and level top tube using a quill stem to get the bar up where my old body needs it (1-2cm below the saddle). At one point I was going to go with downtube shifters, but am currently thinking pre-carbon Campy ergo. I am going to do a lot of bike-oogling at dbrk's ramble to refine my ideas.

There is nothing quite like planning a new bike!
Lew

[mike p]

I use DT shifters on a couple bikes that see a lot of use. When I use my newer race bike I keep reaching for the DT for the first half hour.

Mike

[Ken Robb]

I have 9 and 10 speed Campy, 9 and 7 speed Shimano, 7 spd Nuevo Record, 9 spd. Shimano XT. Sachs twistgrip, brifters and bar-ends. I do make mistakes or at least have to "think" about what I'm about to do when I go from one bike to another. As a recreational rider it's no big problem but if I was a racer I would pick one system and stick with it.

I like the bar-end shifters so well I sometimes think I should put them on another bike.

[GrantM]

I use DT shifters on a couple bikes that see a lot of use. When I use my newer race bike I keep reaching for the DT for the first half hour.

Mike

I don't use DT shifters all that often these days,
but I still find myself reaching there occasionally anyway,
and it makes me laugh when it happens!

I do find it hard to remember what to do with Shimano STI,
mostly i'm riding ergopower or the singlespeed.

g

[Pete Mckeon]

I have both and ride then weekly. Once is a great while I will try to shift down with my thumb on SHIMANO (to find nothing but air there). It is really not a problem and I have been doing it for a year. S&S is Shimano and regular Legend is CAMPY. I have no plans to change out the Shimano for CAMPY unless I hit the lottery. The ultegra really works well on the S&S and requires no setup adjustments when it comes out of the case.

[musgravecycles]

Campa on the road, DA on the cross rig (soon to be back to Campa though), like Eric said the shapes are so different as soon as the hands touch the levers they remember what to do...

[Vax]

About every 5 years I have to change it up. Now I have both. No issues.

I doubt I'll continue the quest for more gearing.

[thwart]

Only issue for me is being accustomed to the drop the cassette (or 2-3 gears, your choice) with one thumbstroke feature with Campy and not being able to do that same handy thing with a Shimano bike.

What the... only one gear? Meanwhile, the group is moving away... :frown:

Especially noticeable with a compact crank.