This iconic Italian brand started it all with Tullio Campagnolo in the 1920s, and they’ve been developing and refining their products ever since.

To some riders, Campagnolo is the one true brand that they aspire to use and Campag has a strong, loyal following for its beautifully crafted components. Although their groupsets generally come in at a higher level than Shimano or SRAM, they have a broad enough range to entice most pockets.

Changing gear on Campag is via their ErgoPower system, operated by swinging the paddle (inside the brake lever) inwards to change up the cassette (into a lower gear) or onto the big ring, while to come down the rear block or to shift onto the inner ring you click the small thumb tab on the hood.

As you may have noticed by now, Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo groupsets all have their own personalities when it comes to shifting, and it’s horses for courses as far as what works for you in terms of the feel of the shifting mechanism and lever ergonomics.

Groupset hierarchy

Campagnolo’s Veloce 10-speed groupset comes in somewhere between Shimano Tiagra and 105, or SRAM Rival, and is constructed using lightweight alloy. Often found on Italian bike brands at around £1,000 to £1,500

Until recently the Centaur gruppo was the next in line (though it has been phased out), so it may still feature on some bikes. Centaur offered 10-speed shifting and some carbon components, and can be found on bikes around £1,500-plus.

Campag’s Athena groupset is the company’s first 11-speed system and comes up against SRAM Force and Shimano Ultegra. Elements of Campagnolo’s top-flight groupsets can be found here as well as a greater use of carbon composite materials. Athena can be found on bikes around £2,250 and upwards.

Muscling in just below the two top-flight groupsets of Shimano and SRAM sits Campag Chorus. Here you’ll find refined lightweight alloys, a smattering of titanium, and more than a handful of carbon fibre. Chorus can be found on bikes above the £2,500 range.

Keep rising up the Campag ladder and you’ll find Record, which is constructed using top-grade alloys, carbon fibre and titanium. Found mostly on dream bikes coming in at £3,000 or over.

It doesn’t quite finish here as Campagnolo also offer Super-Record which is lighter again than Record thanks to its construction using only the strongest and lightest materials available.

Still not quite there, Campagnolo also produce Chorus, Record and Super Record using their proprietary EPS electronic shifting system. If you have to ask how much it is, you can’t afford it.

So that’s all you need to know about Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo. Finally, let’s consider what you get for your money.