Campagnolo is back on the market

Campagnolo is back. And we tested it ourselves.

Tested by Ingmar Berga – Bergasports

Campagnolo. A name that still means something special to many cycling enthusiasts. Italian craftsmanship, character, and a distinctive vision of how a groupset should work.

Yet in recent years, you have also heard doubts. Is Campagnolo still relevant? How does the latest 2x13 groupset perform in real-world conditions? And perhaps the most important question of all: have the people who criticize it actually ridden it themselves?

At Bergasports, we don't simply take stories at face value. We want to experience things for ourselves.

That's why I have now been intensively testing the Campagnolo 2x13 groupset for around 1.5 years. On gravel, on the road, and in a variety of conditions. And my conclusion is clear:

In my opinion, Campagnolo is absolutely back on the market.

1.5 years of riding without any problems

Over the past year and a half, I have covered an enormous number of kilometres with the Campagnolo 2x13 groupset. Gravel rides, long days on the road, and everything in between.

And honestly: no problems.

The groupset does exactly what you expect it to do. In fact, it does it exceptionally well. Shifting is fast and precise, and what stands out to me perhaps most of all is how quiet the drivetrain runs.

You can tell that Campagnolo isn't simply trying to copy an existing formula. It has its own character. And that's exactly what makes it interesting.

Test it yourself before passing judgment

Of course, you're entitled to have doubts. Everyone has their own preferences, and every cyclist experiences equipment differently.

But I regularly notice strong opinions about Campagnolo being expressed by people who have never actually ridden it themselves.

When I ask, “Have you tested it yourself?”, the answer is surprisingly often: no.

To me, that's precisely a reason to give it a try.

At Bergasports, we believe that equipment shouldn't be judged solely from behind a desk or based on a brochure. You have to ride it. Put kilometres on it. Use it in different conditions. And only then form your opinion.

That's exactly what we did.

And after 1.5 years, my verdict is positive.

Italian heart, Italian finish

And then, of course, there is something you can't capture in a technical specification sheet: the looks.

In my opinion, Campagnolo makes one of the most beautiful groupsets currently available.

Especially when you're riding an Italian bike, the whole package simply works. A beautiful Italian frame combined with an Italian groupset — it feels like one complete design.

For me, that's part of the experience of riding an Italian road bike.

Our conclusion

Is Campagnolo for everyone? Of course not. Choosing your equipment is always a personal decision.

But the idea that Campagnolo no longer matters is something I absolutely cannot relate to after my own experience.

After 1.5 years of intensive use, I can say from personal experience: the Campagnolo 2x13 groupset shifts beautifully, runs remarkably quietly, and has proven completely trouble-free for me.

So before you form an opinion about Campagnolo, my advice is simple:

Get on it. Ride it. Test it yourself.

Because at Bergasports, we don't simply take other people's word for it.

We test it ourselves.

— Ingmar Berga, Bergasports