The knobby from Campagnolo
is there a more legendary cycling brand than Campagnolo?
Once again, we crafted a bike for a company and not a person. We have been working for many years with the Italian drivetrain experts. After many discussions about a possible single chainring drivetrain, we had the privilege to be involved in the testing of this new groupset last November, on a 40km gravel loop near the Vincenza factory.
This bike is the face of this much-anticipated groupset, and the fulfillment of three years of work with Alain Descroix, former Campagnolo France CEO, and his replacement Eric Foury. The project was delayed due to the pandemic, so we are very happy to introduce you to this versatile bike, designed to ride all types of terrain with speed and comfort.
For the first time since 1994 and after a small foray into the MTB world that lasted five years, Campagnolo is putting aside racing road bikes and offers a groupset dedicated to alternative types of riding such as gravel, bikepacking and Cyclocross: this is Campagnolo Ekar.
Called Ear, this group features a single chainring crankset and a 13-speed cassette. This is the first cable-operated groupset with this many cogs available to the public. At Victoire, we believe that more does not always mean better. But having smaller jumps between each gear while retaining a single chainring design (superior in many ways for riding rough terrain) is very appealing.
Other than the brake rotors, all components of the Campagnolo Ekar groupset are 100% new. The cassette is machined from a single block of steel. It features a wide range (467%, vs 420% for Sram and 382% for Shimano) while retaining closely spaced gears, thanks to 13 cogs, 2 more than its competitors.
These specifications ensure that you always have the "right" gear available, no matter if you are climbing or descending.
Because disc brakes are a must for off-road riding, the Ekar groupset is available only in disc brake version. The calipers feature a slightly modified design compared to previous Campagnolo models. The rotors are manufactured by Magura, and we consider them the new benchmark for performance.
Another news from Campagnolo, the new bottom brackets are now available in T47 version. This bottom bracket standard was developped by Argonaut and Chris King at the end of 2015. T47 features larger diameter bearings, which require oversized cups and shell. The shell diameter increase is particularly beneficial if the goal is to make a rigid and reactive bike. At Victoire, we use the T47 standard on bikes designed for intense and sporty riding, and also for larger riders.
Campagnolo takes advantage of this product launch to introduce a new BB system, called Pro-Tech. The bearings now feature an additional seal, to make sure that the bearings remain smooth over time, no matter the quantity of rain and mud you encounter.
In addition to supplying the groupset, Campagnolo also brought some wheels : the new Shamal Carbon. The Shamal model has been in the Campagnolo range since 1992, and is synonymous with performance and tall rims. For the first time, Shamal wheels feature carbon fiber rims, and are optimized for multi-surface riding (endurance, gravel, cyclocross).
A perfect match to the Ekar groupset, Shamal wheels have an internal rim with of 21mm and are compatible with tires ranging from 25 to 45mm. The 2-way Fit system from Campagnolo means that no rim tape is required, no matter if you install your tires with tubes or tubeless.
To complete the bike, Columbus generously supplied the very first unit produced of their new fork, the Columbus Cross+. It is an evolution of the tried and true Cross fork. The Cross+ fork features accessory mounts, compatible with ManyThings cages. There is also a mount and internal cable routing for a dynamo headlight. This fork will be available to Victoire customers starting mid-October.
Just like all recent Victoire bikes, the frame (made of Columbus life steel tubing) features stainless steel contact areas. Each contact point with a component is sanded and polished, so that the raw stainless steel is visible. Paint is protected. Internal and external surfaces on the dropouts are polished by hand. Bottle cage mounts receive the same treatment.
This frame features various options that are common on Victoire frames: fully internal cable routing and Stainless Steel cable guards are visible here.
The bike was painted at our shop. Frame, fork and stem have been coated in metallic, pearl-effect paint in lavender color. Depending on the light, the shade varies from light blue to petrol. These effects are accentuated by the presence of multi-color glitter under the clear-coat. All the logos (Victoire, Columbus, Campagnolo) are painted in a very dark shade of purple.
This bike, ordered by Campagnolo, will be used as press bike for various tests. The geometry features a new approach that we have been testing for a while Victoire. It is a departure from the classic road bike, with a longer top tube, a shorter stem and a lower had angle. These modifications, combined with large-volume tires, make the bike very stable on rough terrain and bring huge satisfaction.
This geometry is the perfect balance between a road bike and cross country MTB. It allows to go out and explore, without having to worry about whether the road is paved or not.
