Quote Originally Posted by Kimmyt

Shimano vs. Campy: That's Campagnolo,And, while you get the quality of Campy (yes, just like Euro cars, Euro crafted gear costs more moolah too for the higher quality) you have to think to yourself, just like a foreign car, when you need parts in a flash (you're broken down in some podunk town where the only bike shop is a BikeLine whose section of performance bikes consists of a Huffy mtn. bike with pegs on the front and back wheels) they may be hard to come by. Shimano makes perfectly good gear, and may be a lot easier to come by in a pinch. So if you're only just getting into the sport I would recommend going with Shimano, at least until you're sure you want to make the dive headlong into being a roadhead.... er, roadie.
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Karen, you started a good thread. Although i am certainly not going to try to talk you into going campy (as opposed to Shimano) I did want to add that Campy gears can be repaired and rebuilt, Shimanos must be replaced.

Karen, as you learn this, you are slowly going to the dark side. keep going.
Soon you'll be talking about top tube lengths and seatpost angles!!!
argh!!!