If you’ve ever felt Campagnolo’s ‘standard’ Super Record 13 groupset isn't quite fancy enough, you’re in luck.
The Italian brand has announced Super Record 13 Ultra – a suite of upgraded parts for its flagship 13-speed road bike groupset, built with even lighter and pricier materials.
The so-called 'Ultra component package' consists of a carbon fibre chainring, a titanium cassette and ceramic bottom bracket bearings.
These components come with an endless number of superlatives and some big price tags, of course, but you knew that already.
Components for ultra-demanding cyclists
These upgrades are, Campagnolo says, targeted at “ultra-demanding cyclists who will appreciate the ultimate expression of mechatronics applied to a bicycle” and “those seeking the ultimate performance and lightest weight”.
If you’ve never heard of ‘mechatronics’ before – as we hadn’t – it’s the “synergistic integration of mechanical, electrical, and computer systems”, according to Wikipedia.
In layman's terms, it means Campangolo has sought out the finest materials to make marginal improvements to its Super Record 13 electronic groupset.
Let’s take a look at the new components and compare them to the standard versions.
Campagnolo Ultra chainring
While ‘standard’ Super Record 13 chainrings are made from aluminium alloy, the Ultra chainring combines carbon fibre and aluminium to reduce weight, improve stiffness and give it a “highly attractive racing look”.
Campagnolo says the carbon is structural and the chainring teeth are made from 7075 aluminium – which is said to be “among the lightest aeronautical-derived alloys”, while also being very durable.
Available in 50- and 52-tooth sizes, Campagnolo says the Ultra chainring is designed and manufactured at its headquarters, in Vicenza, Italy – which I visited to test the Super Record 13 groupset ahead of its launch.
These outer chainrings are claimed to weigh 78 and 102g each, 34 and 28g lighter than the stock alloy chainrings (respectively).
They are priced at €330 each, around €110 more than standard chainring sets cost.
Ultra titanium cassette
The clue is again in the name with the Ultra titanium cassette, which uses “aircraft-grade titanium” for the largest four or five sprockets on the cassette (depending on which range of sprockets you select).
Each cluster of sprockets is machined from a block of titanium, and is also made in the brand’s Vincenza headquarters.
The titanium sprockets also contrast with the ‘black chrome’ alloy sprockets that make up the remainder of the cassette, which “transform the cassette into a distinctive element that makes the entire groupset unique”.
The two options are 10-33 and 10-36t, with four and five titanium sprockets, and claimed weights of 215 and 238g respectively, saving 30 or 44g compared to stock equivalents.
Both cassettes cost €620 – a steep increase compared to the £325 / €349 standard Super Record 13 cassettes.
Ultra ceramic bottom bracket bearings
Completing the package is a set of ceramic bearings for the groupset’s Ultra-Torque bottom bracket cups.
As with most ceramic bearings, these are designed to minimise friction, with Campagnolo saying the silicone nitride ball bearings are “selected according to international aerospace standards”.
This guarantees “superior roundness”, the brand says, which contributes to “optimal pedalling performance and long life”.
The bearings also feature an “internal cage” made from “high-performance resin”, which helps further reduce friction, and a “double-seal system” is used to prevent contamination during use.
As well as cutting friction, Campagnolo says the Ultra ceramic bottom bracket bearings cut 3g of weight compared to standard steel bearings.
They cost €164, which is only slightly more expensive than Campagnolo’s existing CULT hybrid-ceramic bottom bracket bearings, which cost £155 / €160.
Ultra-Torque steel bearings are, unsurprisingly, far cheaper at £32 / €33.
The lightest groupset gets lighter
Overall, Campagnolo says the Ultra parts will save a rider up to 81g over a standard Super Record 13 groupset, for a grand total of €1,114.
The brand notes it makes the lightest electronic road bike groupset currently available even lighter.
This, the brand says boldly, “will not go unnoticed and will certainly be felt immediately”.
We’re sceptical about this, but it’s fair to say the Ultra components look very cool and we’re sure riders with deep pockets and an appreciation for high-end materials will find plenty to like here.
Campagnolo says the Ultra components are available to order now and can be purchased individually or as part of a kit, which comes in “equally striking packaging”.
