Campagnolo launches Super Record wireless groupset

On Tuesday, Campagnolo announced its newest groupset, the Super Record 12-speed wireless road groupset. The Italian brand has redesigned and upgraded each of the components, as well as going wireless. The new components have been tested by the AG2R Citroën Team, and are now available for the public.

Redesigned Ergopower levers

The first thing you’ll notice with the new gruppo is that the Ergopower levers have been completely redesigned.

Gone is the inside shift lever from the mechanical version that shifts to a bigger gear. Instead, both up and downshifting is done on two integrated paddles that follow the brake lever.

Campagnolo says that this new system will provide better shifting performance, and along with the new body shape, create better grip and cushioning for your hands. There’s also a LED light on the lever that gives you your battery status.

Battery life

There are two batteries in the new Campy Super Record wireless, one on the front derailleur, one on the back. The charging protocol is in between that of Shimano and SRAM. That is to say, it can be done on or off the bike, by connecting the cable to a magnetic charging port on both mechs.

Once fully charged, you’ll get 750 km of riding in. That’s a little less than what Shimano di2 and SRAM offer, but the upside is the recharging is pretty fast. For a 90 per cent charge, it will take 45 minutes and a full charge comes in at 60 minutes.

There’s also a very easy to see LED battery status indicator on both the front and rear derailleurs.

Brake modulation

Campagnolo prides itself on the brake modulation on its Super Record EPS groupset, and the company says the wireless system will be just as reliable. When you press the brake, the stopping power feels continuous and stable.

Campy’s disc brakes have a temperature controlling system to prevent overheating. Basically, there is a slight amount of movement between the spider and the rotor. So when the brakes are heating up, the rotor expands slightly and therefore dissipates the heat and will not affect the caliper.

Campagnolo has an expression with its staff, that “they like evolution, not revolution.” For example, the spider is the same as the mechanical Super Record but the rotors have been slightly refined. The brake caliper is of course quite different in order to reduce the weight, but much of the rest of the gruppo has been slightly upgraded, as opposed to a radical redesign.

“The components are always an upgrade of previous components that were already tested and proven on the road,” Alessandro Pace, Campagnolo product manager, says. “So in terms of braking, we know that we have already started from a very high standpoint because the performance is already probably the top on the market.”

Smoother shifting and reliable cadence

For gearing, Campagnolo will offer three variations. Those are front: 50-34, 48-32 and 45-29, and for rear: 10-25, 10-27 and 10- 29. The cassette is one piece, apart from the first three cogs.

The gearing remains 12, as opposed to 13. Campagnolo didn’t feel it necessary for the new wireless group given the multitude of gear ratios with 2 x 12. According to Pace, after testing with a variety of athletes, the 12 cogs at the back are sufficient. “Even the pros were telling us to stick with 12, and many big riders tested it in development. They were super happy with this combination,” he said. “We might use it in the future for different applications for sure. But for all the at the moment we think this is the best solution.” Campagnolo was the first company to offer 13 speeds on its Ekar gravel-specific groupset. Which, by the way, will remain mechanical. The thought is that all-day trips in the forest are not a wise place to rely on battery power, and thus, there will be no Ekar electric anytime soon.

The group also hopes to offer a preferred cadence given the gearing. Having the smaller jumps in the cogs is nothing new for the company, so it’s no surprise you’ll see it in the new wireless group. The first six cogs increase by one, the next two by two, and the final three by three. By doing this, Campagnolo says you’ll always be able to find the sweet spot when you’re pedalling. The steadier increase in the cogset means that you’ll never be spinning or crunching; this ratio allows you to find the proper gearing with every shift. The teeth have also been upgraded to create better shifting on the chain path. The design, Campy claims, will create a much smoother up or downshift. The carbon fibre crankarms will be available in 165, 170, 172.5 and 175 mm lengths.

In terms of the future of Super Record, mechanical will eventually go away. “Mechanical super record will remain part of the product range for a few months because we have a lot of fans that still want it,” Pace confirms.”But I can already anticipate that it will be phased out in the near future.” Also of note, although there isn’t a power meter available yet, Campagnolo does have one in development.

As far as availability goes, Campagnolo will start the launch of the new group by going to OEMs initially. So at first you’ll be seeing the groupset on new bikes at stores, but down the road Pace confirms you’ll be able to get in in the aftermarket.

To learn more, check out the updated, interactive website at Campagnolo.com

Campagnolo Super Record Wireless, €5,200