Innovations 2018: Hydraulic disc brakes from Campagnolo - Italo Disco: Campagnolo presents disc brakes

The Italians are hoping for large numbers of units, especially from the new mid-range Potenza 11DB groupset, which is expected to give the new Ultegra from Shimano a run for its money in the near future. The cross-group H11 levers and brakes are positioned above this and are significantly more expensive. They can be used to upgrade the high-end Super Record, Record and Chorus groupsets to disc groupsets. The range is rounded off by special new cranks for disc-compatible frames.

Campagnolo has particularly high hopes for the mid-range Potenza 11DB groupset, with which the Italians want to take market share away from their powerful competitor Shimano. The Potenza 11DB is on a par with the Shimano Ultegra and is likely to be used on bikes from around 4,000 euros. In order to keep the price in check, Campagnolo has largely dispensed with expensive carbon fibre for the Potenza 11DB. Brake levers, rear derailleur and the internally hollow cranks in a modern four-arm design are made of aluminium. Inside the brake levers, the more cost-effective Power Shift mechanism does its job, shifting gears to smaller sprockets in stages. Like the conventional Potenza, the Potenza 11DB is also available in a black or silver finish.

The H11 variant ranks above the Potenza 11DB. However, this is not a complete groupset, but an ensemble of Ergopower brake levers and brakes without group assignment. The H11 components complement the top Super Record, Record and Chorus groupsets and are available for mechanical shifting as well as for the electric EPS shifting system, with the exception of the EPS version of the Chorus. In contrast to the Potenza 11DB, the mechanical H11 levers feature the Ultra-Shift shifting mechanism, which allows the chain to be shifted simultaneously by three sprockets when downshifting and by up to five sprockets when shifting up. The brake levers of the H11 Ergopower versions are also made of carbon fibre.

The grip shape and ergonomics of the Ergopower levers are largely identical on the Potenza 11DB and H11. To create space for the hydraulic cylinders, the grip bodies have been extended upwards by eight millimetres compared to the conventional Ergopower levers. At the same time, they are slightly more tapered in the centre than their mechanical counterparts. As with Shimano and SRAM, the brake levers are positioned slightly outwards. The grip width can be infinitely adjusted using an Allen key. Depending on personal preference, you can also choose between a brake setting with short lever travel and a hard stop and a softer set-up with more lever travel.

The Potenza 11DB and H11 brake callipers are formally identical, but are made of different materials and are compatible with most current disc frames thanks to the flat mount standard. Campa offers separate brake callipers for the different disc diameters of 160 and 140 millimetres. 160 millimetre discs are the standard solution for the front wheel, while there is a choice between 160 and 140 millimetres at the rear; for riders over 80 kilos, Campagnolo also recommends the larger disc on the rear wheel. The Italians are thus taking a different approach to their competitors Shimano and SRAM, who only offer one brake calliper each for their various disc groupsets, which is adapted to the different disc sizes using adapters. The organic brake pads are said to be extremely heat-resistant and have a wear indicator that shows when the pads need to be replaced. The pads are shaped at the edges so that the brake disc finds its own way when the wheel is changed. The steel brake discs are rounded at the edges to minimise the risk of injury. Campagnolo worked together with the Swabian specialist Magura to develop the brakes.

To complement the H11 disc brakes, Campagnolo is offering revised cranksets for the Super Record, Record and Chorus groupsets. The cranks are specially designed for frames with an installation width of 142 millimetres on the rear wheel. Due to the wider rear triangle compared to rim brake models, the chain line shifts slightly outwards on these frames. To ensure optimum shifting function, the chainrings on the H11 cranks also move slightly outwards compared to standard cranks. However, the distance between the pedals, often referred to as the Q-factor, remains unchanged.

In terms of pricing, the principle remains that it has always been a little more expensive to ride Campagnolo. For the Potenza 11DB groupset, the prices of all brake, shifting and drivetrain components add up to around €1,900; Ergopower levers and brakes of the Potenza 11DB come to around €1,050 including discs. The mechanical H11 Ergopower levers and brakes cost around €1,300 and the EPS version even €1,434. Shifting and drive components are not included here. Delivery of the black version of the Potenza 11DB will begin in June, while all other new components and wheels should be available by September at the latest.