Campagnolo has launched a brand new 11-speed groupset under the Athena name, which slots in below Chorus making the company’s 11 sprocket drivetrain more affordable.

Some will remember Athena as a road groupset that was discontinued in 1998. It’s now back for 2010 as Campagnolo trickles its new 11-speed technology to a lower price point.

The new groupset opts for a silver finish, with most of the components made from aluminium to keep the price low. Many of the developments first revealed on Super Record, Record and Chorus this year are on show, including the new brake lever hoods. The vastly improved and much more ergonomic shape uses variable softness rubber – softer for the palm of the hand but firmer where the fingers grip. The levers use an aluminium core with a carbon wrap.

The chainset uses the Ultra-Torque bottom bracket system with Ultra-Shift chainrings, and is available with forged aluminium or carbon crank arms (869g for the alu version). Double and compact formats are available with 170, 172.5 and 175mm arm lengths.

The rear derailleur weighs 218g and is made entirely from aluminium, with lightened rollers made from a special rubber for damping vibrations. The 92g front derailleur uses a steel cage and is available in braze-on or clip-on.

At 236g, the 11-speed cassette features a nickel-chrome surface treatment on each sprocket for longer life and Ultra-Shift teeth shaping make for speedy shifts. The chain is claimed to be 20% longer lasting due to a new material used on the outer links.

Brake calipers feature ‘skeletonised’ forged arms with a specific design for the front and rear calipers.

Price TBC. More at www.campagnolo.com and available from www.chickencycles.co.uk

(And, in case anyone is wondering what Athena used to look like back in the day, here’s a picture of the Athena RS groupset from 1992…)