Campagnolo

Super Record 12 Cassette

We figured of the big three, the component company that would be most likely to first deliver a 12-speed road group would be Campagnolo, and indeed it did. Amazingly, Campy was able to engineer the Super Record 12 Cassette to fit on its previous freehub standard, allowing you to utilize your existing wheelset and frame. Through the use of thinner cogs and tighter spacing, Campagnolo gives the rider a wider range, without having to resort to huge jumps between the cogs, so you always have the optimal cadence over various terrain. This cassette covers the Record and Super Record groups, and as such, it utilizes durable nickel/chrome-coated steel sprockets throughout with two spiders of triplet cogs up top providing maximum stiffness and minimal weight, and six lower steel sprockets with the same width aluminum spacers used throughout. That creates a cassette that comes in at 266-grams with a full complement of 12-speeds. Campagnolo's move away from titanium cogs adds a little more weight, however, the difference isn't that great and the ti cassettes were exorbitantly expensive. Additionally, titanium is much softer, so it wears quicker. We feel this recent move allows Campagnolo to provide the best combination of weight savings, durability, and cost.

Of course, lightweight and durability would all be moot points if the cassette wasn't smooth or didn't shift well and we have to report that the Super Record 12 cassette doesn't suffer here at all. Thanks to a special surface treatment, a smaller gap between the cogs, and a unique tooth shape, during operation, it's quiet and shifts happen with precision and quickness. The tooth shape serves as a gateway for the chain on upshifts which helps relieve pressure on the chain, the rear derailleur, and the cassette itself so you don't have to worry about taking pressure off the pedals for a shift during a crucial point in a race.

The Campagnolo Super Record 12 cassette includes a lightweight alloy lockring and it's available in the two extended ranges of 11-29 and 11-32.