Campagnolo Ekar is weird

[soapowejazz]

the pads are not sloppy. The rotor is floating and has a clearance of approximately 1mm on the rivets to compensate for thermal expansion. So if you hold the brake and rock the bike back and forth you are basically moving the rotor back and forth in the rivets. It's a bit annoying if you are trying to check the headset, but actually you don't feel anything while cycling. They are some of the best brakes I've ever tried.

[mavallarino]

On the hoods the thumb slips in the opening. That lever is preloaded. It’s really mind blowing ergonomics, speed and reliability. And the brakes are the best. Once you’ve had them everything else feels like a death trap.
Nothing beats Campy, nothing. And I’ve had all the group sets.

[delewan]

I've got thousands of miles on my Ekar equipped Niner and it's been absolutely reliable and a joy to use. Its very well built and has been impeccable since day one. Just because it's different doesn't mean it's bad.

[danielhertercasagrande]

I ve no idea about Ecar but I ve riden all group sets from the early 2000s and Campa is top with ergonomics, function and durability

[rdub-yah]

Im a little confused. What situation would you be breaking (presumably to slow down?) and changing into a harder gear?

[deanf]

Nothin weird about it at all. You are just not used to it. Just use the underside of your thrumb to push down in the lever. Not a weird as moving the brake lever to change gear. Having ridden Shimabo GRX in my gravel bike I will never get use to the brake lever moving.

[Spartan]

I have Campagnolo 12 spd and the ergonomics are similar. You need to have your palm back and hold it with more of an open palm with the thumb closer to the shifter.

[ianlandry]

Magura MTB brakes have a similar system with the pads. The caliper is a solid mount to the frame or fork and the pads are magnetized to the pistons while also being held by a pin like the campag calipers. The magura pads do move a little inside of the caliper and make some noise but they are some of the best brakes ive used!

[kevinfrost]

Paul great post. In the sense it’s elicited just about every view possible on the spectrum ……..and opened up some great dialogue in the process ranging from considered to ‘interesting’ . Just luv it 👍

[petertan]

The thumb shifter is meant to be operated by your thumb. The thumb consists of 3 segments, the proximal phalange (the one that connects to the rest of the hand), the medial phalange, and the distal phalange, the one that contains the thumbnail. The question for you is this: you're working with a thumb shifter--why in the world are you trying to operate the thumb shifter with the part of the thumb that is literally the farthest away from the shifter? Why not just use the medial phalange? Myself, I use my distal phalange for shifting maybe 3% of the time. I can use the proximal phalange if I'm in the Belgian aero-tuck position, but most of the time it is the medial phalange. Or, of course, I can use finger knuckles.

The caveat? You must adjust the position of the controls precisely. Do that and changing gears with the medial phalange is as easy and intuitive as rocking your wrist.

Oh, and those brake pads? Let me ask you this: if they look sloppy, do they *feel* sloppy? Imagine disk brakes without squeals, pings, rubbing, . That's a better way to assess the brake system's integrity.

[tonyb]

The trick to matintaining a good grip on rough terrain and still be able to change gear is to ride a flat bar gravel bike.
As an added bonus, you'll also have much finer control of your brakes and steering.
Drop bars are great for the road, but a poor compromise when riding rough ground.

[dogukantosun]

I don't know about the whole groupset but Ekar rotors are the best rotors I have ever used on my Shimano groupset.

[zedddddful]

The trick is to bin it and get a Shimano groupset.

[gregbyrne]

New Ekar user, I thumb shift on the top of the lever/c shaped thing. Been using road Campagnolo for years so maybe ive adapted.

[ralphc]

LOL my 40yo C-Record downtube shifters currently on my steel COLNAGO are laughing right now!!!

[francisarbelo]

I love the Ekar. Have 2 bikes with it. Not confused at all.

[destinationbikeatboxhillin]

You get used to rocking your hand to change down on the hoods. It's easy. I did the Three Peaks CX with Ekar. Nothing much more challenging than that event!

[victorrodriguez]

Just as in initial use of a bicycle, one might say, "This is impossible!! I need at least one more wheel to stay upright"
Practice makes perfect.
I find Shimano odd and Sram weird. But they make them by the thousands, maybe millions. Just like Campagnolo. Because some people really like the ergonomics a lot.

[john-dibn]

actually very opposite to the shimano stuff where there is less grip as you hold onto the drops while shifting to the harder gear

[doccaz]

Isn't this lever design for handlebars with big flare angle ? The grip may be different..