PERFECT-10 SHIFTING

Which road controls are best? Campagnolo's ErgoPower or Shimano's STI? While the debate will continue among single bike riders, for tandem owners the choice is now clear.

In 2005 Shimano released an entirely new version of their Ultegra STI integrated lever set. In testing, we quickly noted a trio of standout features. First is the Lance-inspired ergonomics with a new pair of riding positions on the tops of the hoods. If you watched the Tour de France coverage, it was easy to see how the Shimano-equipped riders were using these new positions to great advantage. Second, Lance also convinced Shimano to ditch the high-effort "Pro Action" feel that had been introduced a couple of years earlier. The new lever's lighter touch allows one-finger shifts from the top of the grips or the bottom of the drops. Finally, while everyone noted the 10th cog capability of the right lever, the big news for tandem riders is the improved mechanism within the left lever. This new lever not only has an additional trim position to cure annoying chain drag, it bypasses trim stops during downshifts. This, combined with an all-new Ultegra front triple changer, allows fast and faultless downshifts even while struggling up a steep grade.

The new Ultegra front derailleur is not only optimized for narrower 10-speed chain, it has a deeper inner cage shape that, when used with a 39-tooth middle chainring, eliminates dropped chains-a tandem team's worst recurring nightmare. By allowing uphill downshifts without the concurrent risk of dropping your chain, the new Ultega levers and front changer will change the way you ride your tandem.

But, tandem riders may counter, what good is Ultegra-30 when Shimano's widest 10-speed cassette is only 12/27? To cure this problem Santana commissioned the creation of a new Mega-10 cassette with 11/34 ratios. And, since it's built exclusively for Santana, the ratios are tandem-specific. Whereas Ultegra and Dura-Ace cassettes start at 12 teeth, and rely on too many one-tooth "baby steps" before resorting to momentum-killing 3-tooth leaps beyond 21 teeth, our Mega-10 provides an 11 tooth "overdrive" for a tandem's faster descents, maintains optimal 2-tooth steps all the way through 25 teeth, and then provides a pair of still-larger cogs for conquering the steepest climbs.

Taken together, Santana's exclusive Perfect-10 shifting provides greater control and comfort, fewer mis-shifts, and uncompromised tandem-specific ratios. Standard for many of our popular 2008 models, it's available on all models fitted with road handlebars.

What about Campagnolo? Instead of spending hundreds more to equip a new tandem with Campagnolo shifting, why not take our "Campy for Free" challenge? Even if you're a campy fanatic who has rejected older Shimano systems, we're certain you'll fall in love with Perfect-10 shifting. If you try our system for 30 days and disagree, we'll let you remove and return your undamaged Ultegra levers, changers and 11/34 cassette to Santana. At no charge we'll exchange your used pieces for brand new Campagnolo 30-speed controls and changers, plus a compatible 12-27 cassette. Call us at (800) 334-6136 for details.