VICENZA, Italy (BRAIN) — Campagnolo's latest road group includes features previously introduced in its top of the line Record and Super Record parts, trickled down — often with less expensive materials — to a lower price.
The company also announced a new version of its longstanding aluminum wheel model, the Shamal, with wider rims.
Potenza
Potenza means strength or power in Italian. Trickle down technology include the front derailleur design, which the company said has an upper body "nearly identical" to that used in the Super Record derailleur. The rear derailleur also features the same design as Super Record, but executed in steel and aluminum, instead of carbon and titanium.
The Potenza group includes a new cassette design available in 11-32, 11-25, 11-27, 11-29 and 12-27 tooth combinations. The cassettes include eight single sprockets with aluminum spacers and three largest cogs are permanently attached to one another. The new cassettes, except the 11-32, are compatible with other Campy 11-speed groups.
The Potenza crankset features the four-arm design used in Super Record, Record and Chorus, but made of aluminum rather than carbon. The crank accepts 53x39, 52x36 and 50x34 chainring combinations. The arms will be available in 170, 172.5 and 175mm lengths.
The Potenza levers have a shape that is identical to the higher end groups. It has hypoallergenic silicone hoods that the company said offer better grip and comfort than the pricier groups. The internals are modified for performance and durability.
The company did not release pricing information on the new group or wheels.
Shamal C17
The Shamal has been part of Campy's wheel line for more than 20 years. The newest version continues several features of the Shamal, including different rim heights for front and rear, G3 spoking, oversized driveside hub flanges, USB ceramic bearings, 2-Way fit rim profiles and oversized aluminum spokes.
The neweest version of the Shamal has a wider rim profile optimized for 25 and 28mm tires. The new shaping is said to be more aerodynamic and more rigid than the previous C15 rims.
The wheels have carbon fiber-body hubs, 16 radial laced front spokes and 21 rear spokes. A new adjusting lock ring design has trickled down to the Shamal C17 from Campy's higher end Bora models.
