In the late 1980s and early 1990s Campagnolo produced a bewildering array of derailleurs that all looked extremely similar. This poses the perfect puzzle for derailleur geeks who can endlessly debate exactly which is what.

I think that this slightly underwhelming 'affordable' derailleur is an early example of a Campagnolo Athena (RD-01AT). I guess that it is a Athena (RD-01AT) because it has a thin-walled outer pulley cage plate with no cut-out at the guide pulley. I speculate that it is an early version because it has a cyclindrical cable adjuster and the inner pulley cage plate has a simple shape around the tension pulley and no spoke deflector.

A list of relevant details might include:

• There is no spring adjuster on the p-pivot.
• The cable adjuster is round and threads straight into the aluminium of the b-pivot.
• It has a double parallelogram spring using ~1.5mm wire.
• The inner parallelogram plate is a steel pressing.
• The cable clamp nut is a Allen nut.
• The pulley wheels are Campagnolo's typical plain bearing design, in black.
• The outer pulley cage plate is a thin-walled aluminium part with a rather crude rotation stop.
• The inner pulley cage plate is steel with a simple shape and no spoke deflector at the tension pulley.

• Derailleur brands: Campagnolo
• Categories: Campagnolo - the locust years
• Country: Italy
• Date of introduction: 1991?
• Date of this example: unknown
• Model no.: RD-01AT
• Weight: 249g
• Maximum cog: 26 teeth (Source: Campagnolo)
• Total capacity: 26 teeth (Source: Campagnolo)
• Pulley centre to centre: 46mm
• Index compatibility: 8 speed
• Chain width: 3/32”
• Logic: top normal
• B pivot: sprung
• P pivot: sprung
• Materials: largely aluminium with a steel inner pulley cage plate and inner parallelogram plate

Ref. 1531