First look: Campagnolo Athena 11 speed

Lampre's Alessandro Ballan became 2008 road world champion riding Campagnolo's Record 11 gruppo. Now the Vicenza, Italy component maker is introducing its Athena 11 gruppo in the mid range for 2010.
The aluminium Athena 11s gruppo will be available in the standard version (2,352g) or with an optional carbon fibre crankset (2,239g). Falling under the Super Record, Record and Chorus sets, the Athena is most likely targeted for Gran Fondo and sportive riders.

Athena 11s Ergo levers

The controls are Ultra-Shift and feature all the design particulars:

• Body with asymmetrical design: more comfortable position when the hands are resting on the controls
• Double curvature of the lever: The lever has a double curvature, which provides an adequate place for the fingers whether the hands are positioned on the upper or lower part of the handlebars
• AluCarbon lever: The brake lever is in carbon fibre with aluminium core. Long-term reliability, stiffness, mechanical resistance and corrosion resistance, a long life cycle, and an aggressive “racing” look
• Vari-Cushion: The lever hoods incorporate Vari-Cushion technology developed by Campagnolo, which gives a different consistency depending on the point: softer where it serves to dampen vibrations, firmer where the hands need to have greater sensitivity and grip
• Mechanisms in low friction polymer: The mechanisms of the controls are made of special low friction polymers that make shifting very light and maintain extremely high precision over time
• Weight: 360g

Athena 11s front derailleur

Similar design as Super Record, Record and Chrous:

• Inner cage with Ultra Shift 11s geometry: The special design of the inner cage considerably increases the swiftness of shifting under stress, and thanks to the “funnel” shape, in the resting position it allows the most extreme chain crossing without annoying friction
• Steel plate with special anti-friction treatments
• Braze-on or clamp: 32mm or 35mm
• Weight: 92g

Athena 11s rear derailleur

• Ultra-Shift front plate in aluminium: Increased rigidity for precision shifting, reduces play, prolongs the life cycle, and is resistant to corrosion
• Ultra-Shift Parallelogram: Increases rigidity and therefore the speed and precision of shifting, and reduces the weight
• Ultra-Shift bodies in aluminium: Both bodies are aluminium, which translates into greater stress resistance, reduction of play, and increased shifting precision
• Proprietary pulley materal to reduce weight and dampen chain vibrations
• Weight: 218g

Athena 11s cassette

The Athena 11s groupset will include the Ultra-Shift 11s sprocket set of its “elder brother” Chorus:

• Steel sprockets, treated with Nickel-chrome for increased life
• Aluminium lockring
• Combinations: 11-23, 11-25, 12-25, 12-27
• Weight: 236g

Athena 11s chain

The Athena groupset will use the Chorus 11s chain:

• 5.5 mm wide steel chain treated with NiPTFE.
• Features Campy's Ultra-Link System, with a special fastening system developed for the 11spd chains with an extremely high retention force of the pins.
• Weight: 256g.

Athena 11s crankset

Campagnolo Ultra-Torque system in aluminium (standard version):

• 8 pins on outer/large chainring
• Two versions: standard 39/53, compact 34/50 with cranks of 170, 172.5, and 175mm.
• Weight: 869g
• Optional carbon version (weight N/A)

Athena 11s brakes

• Skeleton design with Ergal screws.
• Weight: 322g

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