TLDR: If you’re a “Campy Guy” then this will be the best Campy group you’ve ever owned. If you’re a “Shimano Guy” it’s worth a look. If SRAM is your jam, then this is - quite frankly - better, and worth a trade up.
If we’re honest, Campy has fallen off the back in the past decade. Why? Well mostly because SRAM pulled a Ross Perot-style attack that effectively fractured the traditional Shimano V Campy argument FOREVER. And until now, we’ve lived in what’s essentially a two-party system when it comes to components, with Campy being the eccentric independent on the debate stage.
And that’s heartbreaking, because we love Campagnolo and everything they stand for. If you zoom out, they’re a lot like us - manufactured in Europe by artisans with dirt under their fingernails. And their following is more loyal than just about any other tribe on the planet. Case in point: have you ever seen a SRAM or Shimano tattoo on someone’s arm or leg? No, you haven’t (go to Instagram and search the hashtag #campagnolotattoo if you don’t believe me).
So when they invited us to see (and ride) at the new Super Record 13 in early March, we were giddy but reserved because we didn’t want to set high expectations and not have them met. It feels like almost every group they’ve released since Super Record EPS hit the streets in 2011 has been lackluster, and when they dropped out of the PRO Tour in 2024 we thought all hope was lost. But as it turns out, they were actually working on something new and they chose to perfect it rather than rushing it to market before it was ready.
And they did.
Super Record 13 represents the first release in a completely overhauled 13-Speed platform that absolutely gets them back into the game. But going to 13 isn’t new to Campy: the incredibly unpopular EKAR group has been struggling to gain traction in the market since 2020. Sure, the diehards are riding it, and it’s deeeecent, but the lack of an electronic option and poor shifting on internally routed frames has been a real stumbling block. But guess what? The new Super Record 13 shifters and derailleur are backwards compatible with your Ekar cassette and crank, so you’re just three components away from some of the most sublime shifting Campy has ever delivered.
Component by component, here’s a breakdown of what they’ve improved.
ErgoPower Levers: all new, with a pitch-perfect resurrection of the thumb shifter and smart buttons on the inside of the hoods. Single shifter paddles behind the brake levers, and a new hood and lever design that calls back the ErgoPower levers we all grew to love in the early aughts. The best part? You can program each of the three touch points to perform any function you want via their app. I loved the new shape because they’re longer and flatter than the old levers, but they still have the tall, hook-like hood tops that made Ergo levers famous.
Rear Derailleur: this thing is a work of art, and the pics just don’t do it justice. Flawless carbon with Campy logos molded into the body and the back of the cage are a nice touch, but what’s new here is that the body of the derailleur sits inbound of the chainstays, and mostly under the cassette. This is more than aesthetics, it actually gives the derailleur more leverage for better shifting with less battery power. Oh, and they’ve cleaned up the battery too - much more stealth than before. All of this translates to Shimano-level shifting performance, even under load (trust me, I tried to break it - it’s what I do when they ask me to test something).
Front derailleur: also slimmer, with a refined battery that’s forward facing for improved tire clearance. There’s also a carbon cage and 2 mounting holes in order to accommodate their new wider range of chainring options.
Crankset/Chainrings: and speaking of chainrings, they’re now selling cranks and chainrings separately. You can get 165, 170, 172.5, and 175 with these 2X combos: 45/29, 48/32, 50/34, 52/36, 53/39, 54/39, and 55/39 for the flahutes. If you choose the powermeter option, you’re winning the lottery because Campy partnered with the OG of powermeters, SRM, for the new Super Record 13 option.
Brakes: Braking is still re-badged Magura bodies and components, but it’s all assembled with care by Campy in Italy. Upgrades include titanium bolts and sintered pad options for inclement weather. 140 and 160 rotors are available.
Cassette: available in 10-29, 10-33, 11-32, and 11-36 with the tightest ratio between gears ever to ensure smaller jumps and smoother shifts
My demo bike was equipped with a 50/36 double and the 172.5mm Campy SRM. Ergonomically, I found the levers to be on par with Shimano’s uber-comfy GRX. They just feel perfect in your hands without being too bulky or skinny. The new thumb shifters are very svelte, and there’s a discreet tab at the bottom of it that keeps you from accidentally shifting when you’re hammering in the drops.
Shifting performance and speed - both front and rear - was degrees better than SRAM Red, but not quite as light and fast as Dura Ace. Braking power and modulation was as expected, with a better lever feel than both of its competitors. And on-the-fly adjustments are also easy (mine was skipping gears out of the parking lot, and the mechanic fixed it in less than 30 seconds).
Now, here’s the rub: we’re a smaller manufacturer, and we’re waiting in line for our first Campy groups. If you want a Campy-equipped Scylon or ADH, let us know - a handful of our retail partners have limited supply in stock, and we'd love to introduce you. If you want to buy direct from us, it might be a few months before we can make it happen but I promise - it will be well worth the wait.
