Comfort, control, speed and responsiveness are some of the main features of a bike's controls, helping keep all situations under control. The Campagnolo Super Record 2x12-speed Ergopower controls for disc brakes offer an ergonomic, comfortable and safe support and grip thanks to Vari Cushion technology, essential for those who stay on the saddle for several hours.
The controls’ inner workings are a concentration of technology and experience, starting with the "One Lever, One Action" function, which assigns each lever a single function, helping avoid shifting errors at tired or distracting moments, and then continue with the multiple shifting option which allows up- or downshifting by up to 5 sprockets at a time thanks to the Ultra Shift mechanism. This function allows you to maintain cadence even in case of sudden changes of incline or rhythm, with speed and ease as useful as it is surprising.
Furthermore, the Ergopower controls offer lever adjustability that utilizes Reach Adjustment to move the brake lever closer to the low grip, thus adapting to the different hand sizes. AMS Adjustment allows modulating the moment of shift engagement through the use of dedicated levers. The brake levers are engineered with a double curvature for improved grip and are lightened with two slots that are added to the one dedicated to reach adjustment.
The Campagnolo Flatmount disc brake calipers ensure powerful and modular braking in any situation owing to its phenolic resin pistons with 22 mm diameter. This lightweight material provides proper thermic isolation to guarantee constant braking performance even in the long term
To reach the highest level of performance, the construction of forged aluminium provides the necessary rigidity and stiffness. The piston's return mechanism is optimised for a quick return of the pads to their position, cushioning the vibrations during braking and ensuring a total clearance between pad and disc of 0.4 to 0.8 mm without risk of accidental contact.
The caliper was also designed with accessibility in mind, keeping maintenance and assembly operations easy. Accordingly, the pads have wear indicators and replacing them is facilitated by the absence of physical return springs. Even the insertion of the disc into the caliper could be improved to make changing the wheel easier and faster.
The Campagnolo Super Record 2x12-speed carbon crankset has been made lighter on the inside thanks to "Hollow Technology" which uses the Ultra Torque bracket system with a titanium axle to transfer all of the force the athlete applies to the pedal to the drivetrain. The crank can be installed on any type of frame, whether or not it is being used with disc brakes because it optimizes the chain line on the frame with a rear hub flange measuring 130, 135 or 142 mm, without affecting the Q-factor that remains constant at 145.5 mm.
The use of ceramic CULT ceramic bearings leads to obtaining the smooth ride that the Campagnolo brand is known for. The innovative design of the outer chainring ensures faster, quieter derailing owing to the contoured pin. The symmetrical design of the inner chainring teeth allows improved stability with chain crossovers.
A greater use of carbon fibres at the crank arms with the standard double B.C.D. (112 and 145 mm) reduces the weight while eight fixing screws increase the structure stiffness. The varying number of pins for each of the three chainring combinations (50/34, 52/36 and 53/39 teeth) facilitates upshifting due to the optimised free strokes associated with each combination. The special drains on the inside of the outer chainrings improve performance when downshifting in dead spots.
The Campagnolo Super Record 2x12-speed front derailleur introduces many new technologies, starting with the leverage systems designed to speed up derailing. Less effort is needed to shift owing to the split front connecting rod, which prevents contact with the travel limit screw. Whilst the shape of the inner cage plate is engineered to guarantee maximum readiness for upshifting, the external monolith carbon fibre body has been shaped to enhance the efficiency of the chain movement when going uphill and the readiness and fluidity in descent.
The aesthetic impact of the component is consistent with the rest of the Super Record groupset due to the use of unidirectional carbon fibre and titanium stop screws. Micro-adjustments to the front derailleur position, which can be activated by the Ergopower controls, help to prevent any contact with the chain, even in the case of maximum crossover. Regarding compatibility the Super Record front derailleur allows the use of tires measuring up to 32 mm thanks to the upper connector rod and the double fixing position of the control cable.
A connector rod has been added to the Campagnolo Super Record 2x12-speed rear derailleur, as well as a UD Carbon front rocker arm that further reduces the weight of the component, lends uniformity to the aesthetics and magnifies the incredible performance of Campagnolo's signature component.
The Super Record 12-speed rear derailleur can be described as a sculpture with an innovative shape that uses 3D Embrace technology to better cradle the smaller sprockets. The technology serves a double purpose: it enables the chain to maintain optimum traction at all times, thus increasing the speed, power and precision of shifting; it also ensures that the rear derailleur is always at an ideal distance from the sprockets. The redesigned rocker arm was optimized to interface with sprockets that have from 11 to 34 teeth, thus requiring only one version for all of the sprocket packs available. The upper body of the Super Record rear derailleur is made of technopolymer plastic reinforced with carbon fibre, which contributes to the robustness and lightness of the component, whilst the titanium stop screw ensure a reduction in weight and match even better with the technical and aesthetic aspects of the component.
The rider has always been Campagnolo’s focus, and the goal has always been facilitating their performance; making the impossible possible. Adding an additional sprocket might seem simple, however Campagnolo has not only succeeded in maintaining the same footprint, but also improving the component’s performance and durability, which was a tricky challenge.
The Campagnolo Super Record 12-speed cassette features thinner sprockets, tighter spaces and space-saving dimensions that are the same as those of the 11-speed cassette. The addition of the 12th sprocket allows a linear upshift or downshift by a single tooth, up to the seventh gear, allowing the cyclist to find the perfect ratio for any situation.
In addition, the closer sprockets ensure faster, quieter and more precise shifting thanks to the special tooth design and surface treatment which guarantees a longer lifetime. The 6 larger sprockets are also available in two single-piece steel triplets, to avoid energy loss. Mounting the cassettes is easy thanks to matching-thickness spacers.
The chain, in all its apparent simplicity, plays a critical role in the cyclist's safety and in optimizing the entire transmission mechanism.
The Campagnolo Super Record chain also had to be redesigned from scratch to work with all the other 12-speed transmission components. Therefore, the first and most important objective was reducing its overall dimensions. Its width measures just 5.15 mm, thanks to the new pins which are perfectly aligned with the links’ outer surfaces.
The second objective was safeguarding its performance. This was achieved thanks to the Ultra Link system that makes the chain safe and durable, and a special treatment that guarantees extreme smoothness and precision shifting.