55/Rad

Shifters - Campy Centaur 10 speed
Rear Der - Ultegra 6600
Cassette - Shimano 10 speed
Converter - JTEK Shiftmate 3

What chain would you recommend?

Thanks!

55/Rad

Sy Reene

Crank?

HillRider

Any decent quality 10-speed chain will do fine. I'm partial to Shimano and KMC mid-lines like Shimano CN-6600 or CN-6700. I have had good results with Wipperman but they are more expensive.

Iride01 

What chain do you have now? When it was in good shape was it shifting well when everything else was adjusted correctly?

If yes to those questions, then why not get that again?

I tend to match my make of chain to the manufacture of my crank and cassette. So far, that's been Shimano. It's simply the thinking that when they designed all the ramps and other profiling they do on their chainrings and cassettes to help with shifting that they used their own chains to base that on. But it is unfounded thinking as I've not used any other chain on my 11 speeds. Even if another brand of chain didn't shift as well, would it be so bad that I'd actually notice? I don't know.

KMC is a great choice. Some say they shift better on Shimano than Shimano, but I don't know. I've used them on other bikes. But that was before my jump from 7 speed rears to 11 speed rears.

If you are asking about the specific flavor of chain, as KMC and others make several 10 speed chains with different claims of greatness, Just pick one that hits your fancy. In 4000 to 8000 miles you probably have your answer. Of course by then they won't make that same model chain.

55/Rad

Campy Centaur

This is a new setup, hence no experience with this mix

Iride01 

Shimano rear cogs and campy front chainrings. Campy shifters > converter > Shimano rear DR.

That'll be quite a conversation piece. Scrounged parts?

Just go with a 10 speed chain that works on that Shimano cassette. That's where most of your shifting will be. I don't think Campy had anything special about their front chainring spacing that would be negative for any other 10 speed chain. But maybe someone else knows for sure.

KMC and Shimano are my only experience in recent times. But I'm sure others work fine. And if they don't, you can change it out.

55/Rad

In 2008, I built up a Daccordi 50th anniversary frame with new (then) silver Campy Centaur group. See below. I rode the bike sparingly, then sold the frame a couple years later, thinking I would reuse the Centaur group at some point.

That time has come. But I want to pair it with a wheelset that features polished H PLUS SON rims with Chris King hubs - and a Shimano hub. I'm just looking for the best way to do that.

Options:

1. Run a conversion cassette - which are hard to find.
2. Go with Shimano 9 speed cassette - a viable option
3. Buy a JTEK Shiftmate 1 - I'm a fan of the JTEK but I only have the model 3 in hand. The 1 would be another $50+ with shipping
4. Combine the Shiftmate 3 with an Ultegra 6600 rear der. I have all the parts...but don't really want to "visibly" mix the groups.

Iride01 

Is that the current bike in the first pic or is that one of the previous bikes from your older thread?

Either way, the looks are just that little bit of extra special with respect to how you used colors and shapes of components. Even the cable housings and colored tires which I've never seen used so dramatically. If it wasn't for my overwhelming preference for brightly colored bikes, I'd want one.

Or else, you are just that much better a photographer and know how to use lighting and stuff to your advantage.

Are you going to sell this bike right away? If so and the components intended to go with then I'd be a little concerned if I was the buyer and so much was different make components.

But if you are going to keep the bike and ride it yourself and have most all the parts already then it makes sense to me.

As for chain, I suppose KMC is one of your best bets to find a color coordinating chain.

55/Rad

I don't have the Daccordi anymore but I do have the group that was on it. I appreciate your comments. Here is another of the Daccordi.

Not looking to sell anything. I'm building a new bike.

Iride01 

The colored housings add a lot of interest since those colors also appear on the frame. And it looks like your attention to detail is far greater than I'd ever have patience for.

Are you putting that much effort into this current build? Or was all the work on the Daccordi something you just "slapped together"? <grin>

HillRider

For many years I owned a Campy Chorus 10-speed bike using Chorus front and rear derailleurs, a Chorus triple crank and Campy 10-speed cassettes and never used anything but Shimano 10-speed chains. It shifted perfectly.

55/Rad

I was huge into building and the bike forum (I was a moderator at one point) from about 2004 through 2012. Met a gal who also rode and moved away from the forums and in with her. Sold off most of my stable and built her a couple really nice bikes. We got married and continue to ride. I do a project every couple of years, though mostly for other people. This new one is for me.

Here is a photo of a project of mine from 2006 that got quite a bit of attention.

canklecat

KMC chains are fine and a relative bargain. I have Shimano and SRAM chains too and haven't noticed any differences in performance or durability in this mid-priced chains. I have one Dura Ace 10-speed chain but haven't used it yet -- saving it for another project.