How does the Campagnolo's Super Record groupset stand next to theSram's RED AXS eTap groupset?
Sam Gupta has been hands-on with both groupsets and has judged them both across ten categories.
These include: weight, practicality, braking performance, shifting quality, aesthetics, ergonomics, features, gearing options, power meter and price.
Sam Gupta has been hands-on with both groupsets and has judged them both across ten categories.
These include: weight, practicality, braking performance, shifting quality, aesthetics, ergonomics, features, gearing options, power meter and price.
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SportsTranscript
00:00Campagnolo recently dropped the update to its flagship groupset, Super Record Wireless.
00:05In the words of none other than son of the founder, Valentino Campagnolo, the pathway
00:10of development was paved with patents.
00:13It's not out of the question to assume that many of those pre-existing patents will have
00:18stopped Campagnolo from creating the groupset that it really wanted to.
00:23This may play into the reason why the groupset generally received a rather lukewarm response
00:28at launch.
00:30So since this groupset does seem to share quite a few similarities with the SRAM Red groupset,
00:35I'm going to play a little game of top trumps to see how these two really stack up against
00:41each other on paper.
00:47First off, we're going to start with a pretty easy category and one which lands in a bit
00:53of a tie, that being weight.
00:56The claim weights are remarkably similar.
00:58Super Record Wireless comes in at a claimed 2,520g, while Red comes in at 2,518g.
01:08Just 2g of difference.
01:10The only caveat to make in the case of Red is that in the power meter version of the
01:14groupset, it will weigh an extra 36g.
01:17Of course, these are just claimed weights and the Cycling Weekly Scales of Truth may tell
01:23a different story.
01:24But until that day comes, comparing claimed weights has resulted in an early tie.
01:29Up next is the practicality of owning and using each groupset.
01:37Happily, charging on both groupsets is very easy.
01:41Both batteries can be removed and charged within the home.
01:45And with Super Record, you also have the option to charge the batteries in situ without removal.
01:51Charge times also look to be pretty similar.
01:54Both claim to be able to reach a full charge in an hour when connected to an AC power source.
02:00Both groupsets also have accompanying apps, which allow you to update, customise and just take ownership of your groupset.
02:07From a maintenance point of view, the new Campagnolo doesn't need any new tools, which is a great relief.
02:14And the tools needed to maintain the SRAM groupset are generally no different to what any normal workshop would have.
02:20Again, I'm going to call this round a tie.
02:23On to breaking performance, and I think Campagnolo takes this one.
02:30The brakes didn't actually see any radical changes over the previous generation, other than some aesthetic updates and a few changes to the internal components.
02:39It was one aspect that Campagnolo didn't really feel the need to greatly improve upon, as what they already had was already pretty good.
02:47And I'm inclined to agree.
02:49They feel smooth and progressive while still maintaining a really high level of power and control.
02:55SRAMs aren't bad by any means, but they don't possess the same level of feel and modulation.
03:02So, this one goes to Campagnolo.
03:08Shifting performance is a huge part of what makes a good groupset, and both deliver lightning-fast shifting at the rear.
03:16I found on my short test ride with the Super Record wireless groupset that it was slightly more prone to a misshift compared to RED.
03:24There were a couple of occasions when it felt like the gears were slipping or that the chain just wasn't properly engaging with the cassette.
03:31But over 90% of the time, the shifts were fast, smooth and reliable.
03:36SRAM has a higher hit rate, and it's only on the very rare occasion that you might feel something out of the ordinary.
03:43Now, as I turn my attention to the front neck shifting, it's clear that they both have their problems.
03:49While neither are especially bad, neither are as fast as Shimano.
03:54Super Record Wireless did also carry that same vagueness of feeling across to the front neck,
03:59as occasionally, when the cadence was a little bit slower, it did take a little bit longer to change.
04:06I'm going to give this round to SRAM, as on the whole, my experience has been better.
04:11But I will be happy to eat my words after spending more time with the Super Record Wireless groupset.
04:20Aesthetics is really down to personal preference, but to me, SRAM RED looks like a top of the range groupset.
04:27Super Record doesn't.
04:29The mechs are much bulkier on Super Record, and it doesn't have one standout feature or aspect of design language that appears to be carving out a future for the brand.
04:39It looks more like the affordable version of the groupset that you really want.
04:44To my mind, you want your flagship groupset to be bold and daring in design, so that you can then rein in the design for the groupset that sit below.
04:53However, with Super Record, it already looks like it's been reined in.
04:57I worry how tame, or similar to Super Record, the second tier Record will end up looking.
05:05On the other hand, there is a very clear design language in the SRAM lineup, with RED looking very bold and very sleek, with Force taking on a more subdued look.
05:15This round goes to SRAM RED, but you might disagree.
05:19Ergonomics were something Campagnolo were very keen to improve upon, which is why the shifters are a complete ground-up redesign.
05:32And it's something which the engineers themselves are particularly proud of.
05:36SRAM 2 has been working on its shifter design, and we're now seeing the same hood shape pop up on Force, Rival and Apex.
05:44And I would not be surprised to see the same appear on RED in the future as well.
05:48However, as it currently stands, there are a couple of key points which differentiate the two.
05:54While the Super Record hoods were comfortable when just riding along casually, when I started to ride a bit more aggressively, especially up a climb,
06:02as I was pulling on the shifters, the gap behind the brake cleavers in the main shifter body dug into my fingers, and it was quite uncomfortable.
06:10I believe that these hoods will suit those with larger hands, as I felt they just dwarfed mine to some extent.
06:15Conversely, SRAM's hoods have softer curves and fit in my hands rather well.
06:20The softer edges, grippier compound of rubber, and simple one-button actuation make it an easier shifter to interact with.
06:28Now, that's not to say that I wouldn't love to see the brake reservoirs shrink on a future generation,
06:34but with what we have today, RED just feels better to me.
06:40The number of features is an area where Super Record really falls behind.
06:46For example, as it currently stands, Campag doesn't offer any satellite shifters, which SRAM does,
06:53and you can't swap the batteries between the two derailleurs, which you can on SRAM.
06:58It's clear that SRAM has beaten Campag to the punch on many aspects, and it does start to show up here.
07:05Campagnolo has built in the ability to manually turn off the groupset via a couple of buttons on the shifters.
07:11This is so the batteries don't drain whenever the bike is in motion, as it'll just wake up every time it's moved.
07:18But this is less of a feature and more something that's just needed so that battery life is maintained.
07:24So really, SRAM goes to SRAM.
07:31One of the big updates that Campagnolo made to the latest generation is the changing gear ratios.
07:37It claimed that it wanted riders to always be able to find the perfect cadence,
07:42and this resulted in the brand joining SRAM by only offering cassettes that start from 10 teeth.
07:48It's unlikely that the resulting increase in chain actuation resistance will be on the minds of the Campag customers,
07:55as refining cadence is arguably a more tangible improvement to ride quality.
08:00So how do the two brands go about it differently?
08:03And more importantly, who does it best?
08:07Well, I used a gear-inch calculator to tell me.
08:10While both groupsets offer the same hardest and easiest possible gear,
08:14it's the bits in the middle which are of more interest.
08:18On the biggest possible chain rings and the tightest cassette, essentially your go-fast setup,
08:24Campagnolo offers a little bit more range, as the easiest possible gear is slightly lower than SRAM's.
08:30On the other hand, when looking at the setup best suited for climbing,
08:34it's SRAM that offers a slightly wider range.
08:37Sheer gear ratios are one thing,
08:39but the jumps between those gears are also very important to allow you to fine-tune your cadence,
08:45and once again, both are very similar.
08:48Each has opted for one-tooth increments at the bottom of the block,
08:51and then revert to two to three jumps at the top of the block.
08:55Now, I have always praised SRAM for this setup in this regard,
08:59as it always means that you can really hone in on the perfect cadence.
09:03And I really enjoyed this aspect of the Campagnolo groupset too,
09:07so I'll call this round a tie.
09:10Our penultimate round is a simple one.
09:16Power meters.
09:18Quite simply, SRAM has one and Campagnolo does not.
09:21It says that one will be coming in the future, but as yet, we have no idea when that will be.
09:28In contrast, SRAM has some deep roots in the power meter game.
09:32Since the brand owns Quark and PowerTap, it has some great technology at its disposal,
09:39and this has resulted in a very accurate and cleanly integrated chainring-based power meter.
09:45For now, though, if you're an early adopter of the Super Record wireless groupset,
09:50then you'll need to look at other options for your power needs.
09:54This one goes to SRAM.
10:00Perhaps one of the most contentious issues that people had on the release of the Super Record wireless groupset was its price.
10:08Maybe, had the price been a little more in line with its competitors,
10:12people would be more willing to forgive and look past some of the lack of finesse.
10:19To highlight just how much more the groupset really is compared to SRAM on screen,
10:23you can see the retail pricing of the standard 2x hydraulic red groupset.
10:28Below that is the price for the same groupset, but with the power meter.
10:33And then below that is the price for the Super Record wireless in its currently only available form.
10:40Here in the UK, the difference between the comparable groupset is £1,150 or $1,651,
10:49with it dropping to £705 or $1,141 when comparing the power meter version of red to the only available version of Super Record.
11:00As I often say in many groupset videos, few people are going to go out and buy a groupset by itself.
11:07No, groupsets come on bikes.
11:10So, how do the full build costs stack up against each other?
11:13Well, here in the UK, the specialised S-Works Athos is available for £13,000 with the full SRAM Red with power meter.
11:22The Campagnolo build is being offered at £15,000, an extra £2,000.
11:30It should be highlighted that this isn't just down to the groupset.
11:35The bike is also fitted with Campagnolo's own Hyperion Ultra wheels,
11:39which will cost specialised more money to fit over and above its in-house Roval wheels.
11:44But this is a story which I believe is likely to be seen across multiple builds.
11:50Really, it's safe to say this round goes to SRAM.
11:54The result of this battle of top trumps paints a pretty harsh picture for Campagnolo.
11:59But, given my experience with both groupsets and the hard facts, it's a reflection that I think will keep appearing.
12:07You may be questioning why I didn't bring Shimano into this video.
12:11And that's because the current form of Dura-Ace doesn't share quite so much in common as these groupsets do.
12:18And on the surface, pose a rather titillating comparison.
12:22SRAM Red, as we know it, was last updated in 2019.
12:26So, it would not be a surprise to see a new version of it very soon.
12:31Now, if these results are anything to go by, any potential new SRAM Red could be about to leave Super Record Wireless in the dust.
12:40Let me know down below, what do you think of today's comparison?
12:45Would you be willing to purchase Campagnolo purely because of the name?
12:49Or, do you want to adopt more of that modern approach that SRAM takes?
12:53If you enjoyed the video, then please do drop it a like.
12:56Subscribe to the channel for more content and I will see you again very soon.
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