€ 4,300 (without power meter) | Manufacturer’s website
Oh, Campagnolo… Even the most die-hard fans have found themselves sighing softly when they mention the name these days. The iconic brand from Vicenza has had a bit of a rough ride over recent years – including with the last iteration of the Super Record. Loyalists were alienated by the removal of the brand’s signature thumb shifter, while everyone else was left scratching their heads over two fiddly shift paddles that turned gear changes into a bit of a lottery. There were complaints about shifting quality and drivetrain smoothness – usually a Campagnolo stronghold – odd chainring combos, and eye-watering price tags. It all felt a bit like a reluctant attempt to keep up with the times, stepping away from tradition but without offering a clear vision of the future.
Ciao Bella – If Campa’s performance matched its looks, Shimano wouldn’t stand a chance
So here comes the reset. With the Super Record Wireless 13, Campagnolo aren’t just overhauling their flagship groupset – they’re laying the foundations for the brand’s future. Campa want to be more than just a nostalgic nod to the past. They’re embracing their heritage, yes, but shaking off the patina and ditching the sighs. The Super Record Wireless 13 pays tribute to the brand’s history without getting stuck in it. Quite the opposite, in fact, the focus is firmly on what lies ahead. But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. One thing hasn’t changed: Campagnolo groupsets always look fantastic. Timeless, clean and less aggressive than the competition. The Super Record 13 is no exception, aside from the rear derailleur. But can the group’s performance match it looks?
Campagnolo have big plans for the new Super Record 13
The Super Record Wireless 13 will initially be available as a 2×13 road group, but from autumn, a version with a clutch rear derailleur will be offered as both a 1×13 road setup and – with bar-end shifters – a 1×13 time trial configuration. On top of that, 1×13 and 2×13 gravel adaptations are also on the way, capable of handling cassettes with up to 48 teeth. In short, Campagnolo are using the Super Record 13 to map out the future of their product portfolio. The Italians are creating a unified road and gravel platform – and that has serious potential.
Alongside their usual obsession with having more sprockets than anyone else, Campagnolo are putting a renewed focus on another of their traditional strengths: shifting speed. The rear derailleur is said to fire the chain from the smallest to the largest cog in just 2.1 seconds – and back again in only 1.9 seconds. That barely leaves time for a nostalgic sigh. Shifting is handled by an old friend: the thumb shifter makes its return to the Ergopower levers. It’s a classic Campa feature, reimagined for the modern age.
At the heart of Campagnolo’s future strategy are the flexibility of the 13-speed platform, lightning-fast shifting, the return of the thumb shifter and – somewhat surprisingly – a new pricing filosofy. With a recommended retail price of € 4,300 (without power meter), the Super Record 13 is still expensive, but it now sits in the same price bracket as Shimano and SRAM rather than above it. Claimed weight is 2,445 grams, compared to 2,520 grams for the previous version. But what exactly has changed? We’ve taken a deep dive into the new groupset for you.
Back to the future – the Ergopower levers of the Campagnolo Super Record 13
The iconic thumb shifter is back – although it’s been redesigned and repositioned for the latest iteration. Now placed closer to the top of the elongated hoods, it’s less prominent than before but enables better ergonomics in the drops. No need for contortionist thumbs when attempting to shift while sprinting to the line.
That said, most riders today spend more time stretched out on the hoods than buried in the drops. With that in mind, Campagnolo added a freely-configurable button at the end of the hoods. Whether it’s the front derailleur, rear mech, bike computer or smartphone – the Smart Button can control anything electronic onboard. You set it up yourself through the MyCampy app.
The third control is the shift lever behind the brake lever. It’s bigger and easier to reach than on the previous version. The hoods are long and slender, offering a generous contact area with a refined, comfortable feel. The repositioned brake hose routing also gives the tops a cleaner, more ergonomic feel. Combined with the sleek brake levers, the whole cockpit is noticeably cleaner.
Lucky number 13 – the rear derailleur of the Campagnolo Super Record 13
If there’s one area where the Super Record 13 looks noticeably slimmer, it’s the rear derailleur. The design is skeletal, aggressive – almost menacing. Definitely patina-free and seriously fast, even when stationary. According to Campagnolo, it’s the fastest-shifting rear derailleur currently available. We haven’t yet tested that claim with a stopwatch, but a detailed review is on the way.
New 14-tooth jockey wheels are designed to reduce mechanical friction. One notable detail: the rear mech doesn’t stick out as far as its predecessor. That’s a win both in terms of aesthetics and practicality – handy for transport and in the event of a crash. The more compact the unit, the less susceptible it is to damage – ideally letting your pedals or handlebars take the hit when the bike falls over.
Campagnolo offer two mounting options for the Super Record 13 rear mech: the new Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) for direct mount, or an adaptor for traditional mech hangers. The drivetrain is future-ready and compatible with all modern frames.
Mix and match – cassette and chainring combinations with the Super Record 13
The “13” in Super Record 13 isn’t just for show – it’s currently the only top-tier groupset combining 13 sprockets with a double chainset. Neither SRAM or Shimano offer that.
But does it actually make a difference? Campagnolo point to smoother cadence thanks to smaller gear jumps – making for more efficient pedalling. And they have a point: with the 10–29 cassette, the smallest nine gears go up in one-tooth steps. While that’s great for pros chasing marginal gains, for mere mortals like us, the real win is being able to fine-tune the gearing to match our own riding style.
There are four cassette options (10–29, 10–33, 11–32, 11–36), which can be paired with seven different chainset combinations (45/29, 48/32, 50/34, 52/36, 53/39, 54/39, 55/39). In the previous version, the small 10-tooth sprockets at the back called for smaller chainrings up front which wasn’t to everyone´s liking. Not anymore – the wider range of options now leaves nothing to be desired when it comes to gearing spread and gear range.
And despite the additional cog, the new 13-speed cassettes are the same width as the previous 12-speed versions and compatible with the existing N3W freehub body. How the new group fares when it comes to setup, maintenance and wear remains to be seen. Campagnolo’s mechanical 13-speed Ekar, after all, can be a bit of a diva and requires occasional fine-tuning.
Weightwatchers – brakes and front derailleur of the Campagnolo Super Record 13
The front derailleur has been subtly reworked, too. A new guide plate makes it compatible with the expanded chainring options, and a new housing trims a few grams. The battery housing has been redesigned too – improving rear tire clearance. Yet another clue that Campagnolo have gravel ambitions for this platform. The batteries for the front and rear mechs are identical, offering a claimed range of up to 750 km per charge and can be recharged either on or off the bike.
The brakes are familiar and closely resemble the previous model – which is no bad thing, since they’ve already proven themselves on several occasions. Titanium bolts shave off a few extra grams.
Conclusions
With the new Super Record 13, Campagnolo are doubling down on ultra-fast shifting, customisable gearing and a distinctive control layout. More importantly, they’ve finally found a product strategy that’s looking forward rather than clinging to the past. We’ll soon find out how the Super Record 13 performs in real-world conditions – full test coming soon.
Find out more on campagnolo.com.
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Words: Nils Hofmeister Photos: Campagnolo
