In 2018 Campagnolo surprised the world by being the first of the big three groupset manufacturers to produce a 12-speed groupset for the road. Now in 2019, it has taken the next step by launching the electronic EPS version of Super Record.
Super Record EPS will be available in both rim brake and disc brake formats and, for now, only the top-tier groupset is getting the electronic treatment, with next-level-down Record remaining as mechanical 12-speed only.
As expected, the new EPS groupset maintains all the same features as the mechanical version of Super Record, combined with the electro-gizmology of the established 11-speed EPS set-up. That, however, doesn’t mean that the old electronic derailleurs and shifters have simply been bolted on to the new crankset and cassette.
The move to 12-speed has required a complete redesign of all components, with the aim of improving performance in all areas while still maintaining that recognisable ‘Campy feel’.
As Lorenzo Taxis, Campagnolo’s global marketing and communication director, puts it, ‘Everything is considered from scratch. The whole of our aim is to improve the rider experience in terms of ergonomics, performance, speed… everything.’
Crankset
Image 17 of 29
The crankset for the new Super Record EPS is identical to the one on the mechanical version.
Made from hollow carbon fibre, it is exceptionally light (claimed 618g) and stiff, and comes with additional bracing on the outer chainring in areas of highest stress.
The four-arm, eight-bolt design means that chainrings can be swapped about to produce different combinations, while the bolt attachment points will always be in the optimum places to maintain mechanical efficiency.
The inner chainrings come with teeth shaped symmetrically to allow more extreme chain angles (eg small chainring to small sprocket) without undue grinding or wear and tear.
The axle is titanium for lightness, and the bearings are CULT ceramic, which Campagnolo claims are nine times more efficient than steel.
The shiny surface of the carbon cranks is purely down to the resin used, says Campagnolo, and there is no clear coat applied over the top – it just comes out of the mould like that. In addition, the resin contains UV blocking agents so the carbon won’t degrade in the sun over time, which is something that Camagnolo claims is not the case with some other brands.
In terms of sizing, the cranksets come in 53/39, 52/36 and 50/34 chainring combinations, with crank length options of 165mm, 170mm, 172.5mm and 175mm.
Levers
Image 16 of 29
The hood and levers – which Campagnolo calls Ergopower – are again based on the shaping of the mechanical version, but incorporating the EPS electronics and buttons.
The hoods are shaped to be easier to handle than the old 11-speed version, making them slightly bulkier but still elegantly curved. The disc brake hoods are just 8mm taller than the rim brake version, despite having to include the master cylinder for the hydraulic system.
The hoods themselves now include vibration-absorbing material to reduce fatigue at the hands.
Other changes compared to 11-speed include more ergonomically shaped levers, to make them more accessible when on the hoods or in the drops. And the position of the levers can be adjusted to suit different hand sizes using an allen key, as can the stroke distance of the levers to suit braking preference.
As always with Campagnolo, the up-shifting is done via a paddle behind the brake lever, while the down-shifting is via a button on the inside of the hood. Not only have these buttons/levers been made slightly larger and more tactile for easy use, but they also now include ‘Multi-Dome’ technology.
This is basically a plastic pad inside the hood that ensures the traditional Campy ‘click’ remains in evidence. Apparently, the pro riders who tested early versions of the system complained that the electronic button press was too soft and quiet, so changes were made to give it some extra feedback and make it more obvious when a shift had taken place.
Command centre
Image 23 of 29
At the heart of the EPS groupset is the command centre that uses both Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity.
A ‘mode’ button located discreetly behind the thumb shift lever activates diagnostics and allows the rider to perform certain functions on the fly, such as checking battery life and even making fine adjustments to the front and rear derailleur.
The whole system can be controlled from the MyCampy app, where button functions can be customised and adjustments can be made to the number of shifts provided at a lever push or the speed of shifting. By simply holding down the shift lever, the rear derailleur will scroll through 11 sprockets, all the way up and down the cassette.
The system will also connect to external devices such as phones and bike computers to provide a range of data for riders who like to know what their shifting habits say about them.
The V4 interface can be placed in a bar end or will slot into the down tube of compatible bike frames.
Battery
One of the significant changes compared to the 11-speed EPS is the battery.
Campagnolo says it is now longer in shape than before and 10% longer-lasting in terms of battery charge. In its tests, it managed to lose only half its power over three weeks of regular use, and in normal circumstances should only need recharging every month or two.
The battery is thin enough to be compatible with nearly all framesets, and is held securely in place in the seat tube by one of two different adaptors.
Front derailleur
Image 12 of 29
As with the mechanical 12-speed groupset, the front derailleur uses a thin cage design to ensure crisp shifting without chain rub. The inner portion is made of aluminium, while the outer part is carbon fibre, as is the body of the derailleur that houses the motor (and, for good measure, the retaining bolt is made of titanium).
Campagnolo claims that its derailleur motors are the most powerful of all the electronic groupsets on the market, and that it is capable of making clean shifts from the small ring to the big even under significant loads.
The action of the front derailleur incorporates a double-pivot so that the movement is more sideways than simply rotating around a fixed point. And the EPS cunningly overshifts slightly to ensure that the chain is properly engaged on the chainring before moving back into a position that prevents chain rub on the mech cage.
Rear derailleur
Image 13 of 29
The rear derailleur is a one-size-fits-all unit that can cope with different cassette ranges thanks to larger 12-tooth jockey wheels. It means that users can switch between different gearing options without having to worry about changing the chain length.
As with the mechanical version, the rear mech incorporates Campagnolo’s Embrace technology. This allows the system to adjust automatically both upwards and forwards so that the upper jockey wheel is as close as possible to the sprocket, meaning more chain is wrapped around the sprocket more of the time.
This added engagement is not only mechanically efficient, it also helps protect the teeth of the sprockets and the chain, so both should last longer.
The rear mech body is a mixture of aluminium and carbon, and the unit weighs in at a respectable (claimed) 234g. A versatile hanger allows for both traditional and direct mounting, and thanks to cables being soldered into each component, the whole system is claimed to be waterproof – something else that Campagnolo says is unique to its groupset.
Cassette
Image 20 of 29
The 12th sprocket is the big story of the Super Record cassette, but perhaps more impressive is the fact that Campagnolo has managed to squeeze it in while maintaining the same hub body spacing as the previous 11-speed. Thus, it is not necessary to invest in a new set of wheels when upgrading from 11-speed to 12-speed.
There are only two cassette options available: 11-29t and 11-32t. This, according to Campagnolo, provides all the range of gearing anyone could want, while ensuring minimal jumps between gears. The first seven sprockets on the cassette increase by only one-tooth increments, making for smooth gear changing.
To fit in the extra sprocket, each of them has to be thinner and the space between them has been reduced, but Campagnolo insists that new surface treatments mean they are just as long-lasting as before.
The largest three sprockets have been machined from steel as a single piece (a ‘triplet’), as have the next three sprockets, which helps with stiffness. After that, the sprockets are machined individually, with spacers made from aluminium to ensure perfect alignment.
Chain
It goes without saying that the chain has to be thinner to accommodate the 12th sprocket. The material itself is thinner, as is the space between the link plates.
Despite this, Campagnolo claims the new chain maintains the exact same durability of its 11-speed predecessor while being quicker to engage and having the added benefit of being lighter – 228g (claimed).
Brakes
Image 14 of 29
On the rim brake version of Super Record EPS, the traditional skeleton brakes that Campagnolo were known for have been filled in slightly in the name of aesthetics and aerodynamics. Ultimately, though, they function the same and will accommodate up to 28mm tyres.
A direct mount rim brake is available and it incorporates a special brace that stiffens the set-up and prevents the seatstays flexing under braking load.
Campagnolo claims the cabling and housing for its rim brakes is both super-smooth and more durable than the competition.
The disc brakes come in both 140mm and 160mm options and have smooth, round edges for reasons of safety (no jagged edges to saw through limbs). Campagnolo is also especially keen to emphasise the heat resistance of the brakes, with discs that can withstand extreme temperatures and new organic resin brake pads that improve wear life.
A new blend of both spring and magnetic roll-back (0.4mm) ensures there is no lag or drag on the brakes.
Overall
Ultimately, the new Super Record EPS is Campagnolo’s newest and bestest groupset – the one where no expense has been spared, no corner has been cut, and no opportunity missed to shed weight and fine-tune performance.
The company claims that the entire disc brake version of the groupset weighs in at 2,505g, while the rim brake version comes in at 2,255g (which makes it approximately 214g heavier than the equivalent mechanical rim brake groupset).
As for money, we are still waiting on confirmation of prices for complete groupsets, however the top-end, best-of-everything price for the mechanical 12-speed Super Record was £2,856, so you can expect the EPS version to be north of that.
Cyclist was fortunate to be present at the recent launch of the new Super Record EPS groupset in Girona, Spain, so click through to page two to read our first impressions of how it performed.
Campagnolo 12-speed Super Record EPS first ride
A true luxury item: beautiful, functional, desirable and slightly unnecessary
The mechanical version of Campagnolo 12-speed Super Record came out last year, and I am fortunate enough to have been riding around on it for the past few months. In truth, I have enjoyed every pedal stroke of the time I have spent with it.
It is crisp functionally, comfortable and ergonomic to use, and makes any bike look like work of art. During those months, however, I have struggled with one question: are 12 sprockets on a bicycle absolutely necessary?
The answer I have come to is… no, of course they aren’t. Who really needs 24 gears on a bike? And, if I’m being totally honest, I probably couldn’t tell the difference between 12-speed and 11-speed while out on the road.
But here’s the thing. We don’t really need 11-speed either. But now that most of us are riding it, who among us would willingly go back to 10-speed (which was in turn considered unnecessary when everyone was riding nine-speed)?
Now that Sram has followed Campy’s lead and also produced a 12-speed groupset, we can assume it won’t be long before Shimano does the same, and then everyone will simply accept 12-speed as the norm, and 11-speed will seem like some dusty relic from a bygone age.
Image 2 of 29
The point is, it doesn’t really matter that the 12th sprocket is somewhat redundant. In many ways it is merely a sign that things are moving on.
In the words of Lorenzo Taxis, Campagnolo’s global marketing and communication director, ‘Every time, since forever, when we move forward in terms of eight, nine, ten, eleven, we say that the extra sprocket is only the cherry on the cake. It is the easiest way to communicate that there is a new product to the consumer, but really every time we move forward it is an excuse to rework everything.’
As such, I was excited to get the chance to experience the next stage in the evolution of the Super Record groupset. At the beginning of March, I arrived in Girona, northern Spain, along with a motley assortment of other cycling journalists from around the world, for the official launch of Campagnolo 12-speed Super Record EPS, the electronic version of its top-tier groupset.
As a card-carrying Campyphile, I was hoping for the best of all worlds: that heady mixture of high-end bling – all mottled carbon and shiny titanium – with the level-headed functionality of a beautifully made machine.
That’s pretty much what we got. During the time we had with it (which was admittedly quite brief and in very clement conditions) the Super Record never skipped a beat and quickly felt natural and intuitive to use.
Image 6 of 29
Top of the list of important things for me was the click. The click is a vital part of a Campagnolo groupset, and it is unthinkable that it might be not be there. It’s a deal-breaker.
By the click, I mean the tactile, positive feedback I get from the gear shift levers when I press them. On Campy’s mechanical groupsets it is particularly noticeable – the click is almost a clunk – but on its previous EPS groupsets it has been just the right amount of pressure and release, with an audible response that lets you know the gear-changing process is complete.
This may sound frivolous, but it’s an issue I find frustrating with Shimano’s Di2 system. On Shimano’s electronic groupsets, the button press is so minimal, with barely any movement, feel or sound (especially when wearing gloves) that I often find I need to look back to check whether I have changed gear or not.
That’s why I have always preferred the buttons and levers on Campagnolo’s EPS systems. They click. And I’m happy to report they still click on the latest 12-speed Super Record. But it was a close-run thing.
Apparently, during its development, the click disappeared from the 12-speed EPS, leaving a soft and silent shifting mechanism. The pro riders from Movistar (who are already racing on 12-speed Super Record EPS) demanded that the click be reinstated, and so Campagnolo developed what it calls ‘Multi-Dome’ technology, which is basically a plastic doo-dah built into the body of the hoods to produce a clicking sound and feel.
So, thank you, Movistar.
Image 7 of 29
As for the shifting itself, it is as solid and positive as you would expect from Campagnolo. Not silky, perhaps even workmanlike, but that’s something I like about the groupset. I want to feel what’s going on with the bike. I don’t want the sensations stripped out or muted.
Especially impressive is the front end shifting. Even grinding slowly up a hill, the front derailleur had no problem moving the chain from big ring to small and back again. Campagnolo claims that its motors are the strongest of any of the competition. It’s not something I can verify, but certainly they made short work of any challenges I could throw at them.
Equally the brakes performed faultlessly – no squeaks or sudden jarring – and the slightly larger hoods required to accommodate the hydraulic master cylinders are actually to my liking. I found some of Campagnolo’s previous hoods to be a little too small to get a good grip, so the latest versions are both comfortable and reassuring, as well as attractive.
In terms of looks, I think Campagnolo has got the new Super Record just about right. When the new 12-speed first came out last year, I worried that it was too modern-looking, potentially cheapening what has always been a classically elegant set of components.
However, when married to modern bike frames, the new system manages to blend perfectly, being just the right side of blingy, without ever straying into ostentation. The carbon derailleurs are remarkably refined and unobtrusive, and the crankset has as unadorned sheen that makes it beautiful in its functionality.
Campagnolo will always have its detractors. Some will write it off as expensive jewellery, and will point out that you can get just as efficient shifting from groupsets that cost a fraction of the price.
Image 11 of 29
That may be true. Then again, a suit from Primark will do exactly the same job as suit from Paul Smith for about a tenth of the price, but how does it make you feel to walk down the street in a Paul Smith suit?
It’s not possible to justify the cost of a Campagnolo Super Record groupset, but to fret about the price is to miss the point. This is a groupset that is made in Italy, blending technology with tradition, and with no thought for cost-saving, corner-cutting or mass-market penetration.
You don’t need it, but I promise you that if you fit the new 12-speed Super Record to your bike you will love it. It blends technological sophistication with the sepia-tinted heritage of a traditional Italian marque, a combination that is hard to get right but that has come to define Campagnolo.
‘There is something that will never change, and that is your past,’ says Taxis. ‘So you need to respect your DNA. You need to understand who you are, but you need to move forward. The world is changing and you need to change accordingly, but remembering who you are.
‘If you are a leopard you cannot become and elephant, and the other way round.’
Let’s hope Campy never tries to change its spots.
