ASK BERN

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  • Bern.
    Bern. Posts: 58
    TTTT, They should be able to sort this any time for you. Best to let them know you are coming in so they will be ready. Give Corey(kiwi guy) or Marsten a call and they will be more than willing to help you out. They have some decent tools that should undo the pedals in double quick time. If there is any other underlying problem why they won't come off so soon after being fitted they will not leave you stranded and will make sure you are on the road straight away.
    BERNIN RUBBER
  • TheTalkingTurboTrainer
    TheTalkingTurboTrainer Posts: 916
    Excellent! Thanks Bern!

    Typical first class Condor service as usual!
    Vive les All Blacks!!! [:D]
    Vive les All Blacks!!! [:D]
  • JWSurrey
    JWSurrey Posts: 1,173
    Bern - Will be popping in next week to spec. up and order my Squadra Hurrah!....

    Do Shimano offer different sized chainrings?
    I'm thinking about the 105 double crankset, and whether they'll take a 50/34.
    (Their website is lacking in weights/specs - nowhere near as good as Campag)
    If not, it'll either be the triple, or I may just stick with Campag. and have cross compatibility between rides.

    will "ronan@condor...." get through to Ronan, or should I just mail "info@..."

    If I can forewarn Ronan of my likely spec./queries I guess that'll help.
    Perhaps you could have a configurator on your website, then people can submit their configs / print them out - would take some of the "err I haven't thought about that / will need to go away and think about it" out of purchasing.

    On the cross-compat. front, how easy is removal and refit of a Campag. cassette?
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Bern - quick question. Do you stock White Industries ENO hubs?

    Thanks.
  • Bern.
    Bern. Posts: 58
    Hi JWS,

    Shimano do offer 53/39, 52/39 and 50/39. 105 is not available with 50/34, but they offer a crankset called R600 that comes in 50/34 and is the same level in quality and another called R600 which is more Ultegra level.

    If your other bike is Veloce then you may benefit from the ability to swap wheels and have a familiar gear system.

    Best to email info@ and make the subjet 'attention Ronan' and it will get passed on.

    Will pass on your idea to our web person.

    Cassettes are fairly straight forward with a chain whip and lockring tool. The chainwhip holds the
    cogs in place so the lockring can be undone. Fefitting is the opposite, but with just the lockring tool.
    BERNIN RUBBER
  • MrSmithcp
    MrSmithcp Posts: 10
    Bern, i have a new pista and am a bit confused about the seatclamp(s), there is a smaller clamp on the seatpost above the normal clamp,is this a necessity?
    the post was creaking so i tightened the main clamp (not silly tight as the post is carbon) and the brass nut popped out of the clamp in two pieces.
    i have fitted a replacement clamp, can I get rid of the second smaller one? the post has lots of grease on it, I don't know if this is part of the slipping problem?
    all my other bikes have alloy posts with single clamps so I don't know if two clamps is the norm for carbon?
  • Bern.
    Bern. Posts: 58
    Mr Smith,


    If you pop the seat clamp back to the shop they will replace it for you.

    The smaller collar on the seat post is a guide so if you remove your post or move it you can set it back at the correct height.

    It is a good idea to move a carbon post every couple of months. The grease used is a special grease just for use with carbon. Do not use any other grease with your carbon post.

    If the post is slipping let one of the mechanics have a quick look at it.
    BERNIN RUBBER
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Hi Bern, what size seatpost and front mech does the Fratello take ?

    My bikes - http://flickr.com/photos/82587774@N00/
  • Bern.
    Bern. Posts: 58
    27.2 and 31.8
    respectively.
    BERNIN RUBBER
  • MrSmithcp
    MrSmithcp Posts: 10
    thanks bern, i'll get it looked into at the first service.
  • mortuk2k
    mortuk2k Posts: 14
    I went along for opening time on saturday and I'm all sorted for a centaur equipped Italia. I travelled some considerable distance on the train and it was well worth it, real top notch and individual service for sizing and specification. I had a great day!

    Amazing watching a small queue form for opening and the shop staff were flat out from the word go!

    Thanks, just have to maintain my patience now [:D]
  • Bern.
    Bern. Posts: 58
    Thanks mortuk, I am sure it will be worth it.
    BERNIN RUBBER
  • JWSurrey
    JWSurrey Posts: 1,173
    Hi Bern,
    Thanks for all the info. and advice over the last few days.
    The deposit is down for Condor 2007 #2 [:D]

    Ronan did yet another outstanding job with the fit and specification - Poor guy was being pulled from pillar to post by customers! Shop was popular as usual.

    Unfortunately, my email and 'phone message didn't get to him, so I arrived on a different day with some awkward questions!

    Squadra is a fab. contrast to my Fratello. Much more comfortable than I expected. Hugs the road like it's on rails. Very tight communicative frame. Feels much more solid than expected too - I suspect the fork is a very different beast to the Frat's, which probably accounts for it?

    Was nice to have a few Squadras lined up for weight comparison. There's a gnat's hair of a difference between the Squadra weight and the carbon Baracchi.

    Nice to see you're stocking Nuun now.

    Any plans for a D7.9 Scandium triangle in the future? I hope not - my wife will be very cross [;)]

    An interesting question has arisen:
    "Who *IS* Bern?!"
    Even some of your staff don't seem too sure...
    Are you a mythical legend only spoken of?...
    Is there a photo. of you anywhere on the web?
    Are you actually the alter-ego of someone in the shop? i.e. Do you vanish in to a 'phone box or internet-booth after closing time, to emerge with a cape, and Y-fronts over your lycra?
  • Bern.
    Bern. Posts: 58
    Ah, nice to hear Ronan has been looking after you. The comments on the squadra are just what I would expect as that is exactly how I want it.

    We trialed D7.9, but have to say it is not best suited to the mass market, but good if you want a short race only bike. It will not handle a lot of stress. One of our riders managed to kill one off in 6 months. Its only advantage is that it is super light.

    Thanks for the heads up on Nuun, we trialed some and had good feedback so we now stock it knowing that it works well.

    Sorry, there are no photos. Time in the shop is now very limited as most is taken up with future projects.Mrs Bern always ensures cape is ready for action.
    BERNIN RUBBER
  • JWSurrey
    JWSurrey Posts: 1,173
    Bern - A question on Squadra frame decals...
    Will the white Squadra decals be the same as those on the white Italia in the website "brochure" i.e. Green/yellow/black/red/blue world champ./UCI striping?

    Just debating whether to be a total tart and go for the Specialized Toupe World Champ. saddle - after all, white saddles are such a practical colour [;)]
  • tmclondon
    tmclondon Posts: 1
    Hello Bern
    I picked up a Red Fratello a couple of months ago and on my first ride, found that the front mudguard bracket had been set too high and had taken a layer of paint off the bottom of the headtube when turning the bars. When I took it into the shop you didn't have any of the paint but were waiting for it to arrive. Is it in yet?
    Thanks for your help.
    Tom
  • Langenberg
    Langenberg Posts: 453
    Bern,

    A quick question: Do you do custom frames? I unfortunately do not fit the usual frame sizes as the top tube tends to be too short. Have a frame geometry etc from my current custom frame...

    Thanks.
    Langenberg

    =====================
    Pas de progrŠs sans peigne.
    =====================
    Pas de progrŠs sans peigne.
  • 12volt
    12volt Posts: 32
    hi bern am coming up to london on monday whats the likelyhood
    of coming home with a veloce equiped squadra the same day ???[:)]
  • Bern.
    Bern. Posts: 58
    Jws, the decals will be exactly as on the squadra in the brochure. The same design is used on all 3 colours. They are mainly white with silver detail
    BERNIN RUBBER
  • JWSurrey
    JWSurrey Posts: 1,173
    Thanks Bern.
    Looking forward to escaping the office and attacking the North Downs on the Frat. again tomorrow.
    So what's the plan for Condor's 60th - any clues?
  • Bern.
    Bern. Posts: 58
    Tmc, best to call and ask for Marston in the workshop. We normally use model enamels as they air dry much better than our original paint which is normally oven baked.

    We can offer custom builds. There is normally a longer wait and an upcharge, but if it fits then it it is definately worth waiting for.

    12volt, to be honest I don't think it would be possible unless you walked away with a display model. we have to keep builds in order from when placed.

    Jw, there are lots of plans afoot, but i don't know all of them.you will see a new logo start to apear and expect to see lots of nice bikes at the show.

    Sorry for late replys, I have been running around a lot this weekend.
    BERNIN RUBBER
  • AndyH70
    AndyH70 Posts: 4
    Hi Bern,

    I bought a Condor Pista about 4 months ago. Pretty much ever since I got it, the freewheel (the hub is flip-flop, but I've only riden it freewheel so far) has made quite a lot of noise, and certainly more than a usual non-singlespeed freewheel. The noise is not the usual clicking of the internal rachet mechanism, but something altogether different. Anyway, I'm wondering whether there is any way I could quieten it down? Perhaps a bit of lube somewhere?

    If it's just the case that the stock Pista freewheels are a little noisy, then that's fine. And if so, are there any replacement freewheels that you stock and would recommend?

    Other than that slight distraction, I must add that I'm loving riding my Pista :)

    Cheers,

    Andy
  • Bern.
    Bern. Posts: 58
    Andy, singlespeeds are generaly noisier than standard freewheels and it does not take much road grit to amplify it. Keeping the chain clean and well lubed is important. It would be good to get different views on this. We are getting good feedback from prolink lube at the moment.

    The shimano feewheels we use are the best we have found so far. We have tried some others, but they tend to be a little cheaper and half the quality or very expensive like the white industries one at around ¶œ80 which is fully serviceable.

    If anyone knows of other decent brands please let me know.
    BERNIN RUBBER
  • AndyH70
    AndyH70 Posts: 4
    Thanks for the prompt reply Bern. I'll give it a good cleanup and see how it goes!
  • Bern.
    Bern. Posts: 58
    Let me know. The more feedback we get, the better advice we can pass on.
    BERNIN RUBBER
  • alansmithy
    alansmithy Posts: 80
    Hi Bern

    Probably just to do with sheer volume of enquiries etc, but I'm not having much joy getting any replies to emails to info@condorcycles.com

    I ordered my Fratello 4 weeks ago and, though I was advised there would be a wait, it'd be good to get an updated ETA as I am only in London once or twice a month and it would give me a chance to schedule some time in my diary for collection. Similarly, I requested a couple of changes to the original spec I knocked up with Ronan (SILVER Ventos and a Tortec Ultralite rack) a couple of days after ordering and it would be good to get confirmation ahead of the build if possible?

    Many thanks,

    Alan
  • Bern.
    Bern. Posts: 58
    Hi Alan,

    I have just found your details and the wheel/rack changes have already been made.

    The current production run is estimated to be at our paint shop within the next 7-10 days. Painting will take 5-7 days max and then the same again for delivery. I am back out at the factory in 2 weeks time to make sure all is as they say it is. I will get updates before then, but going out there is the only way to get accurate info.

    I will pass on the info about lack of response. I think it is because the shop is experiencing it's busiest ever spring time.
    BERNIN RUBBER
  • alansmithy
    alansmithy Posts: 80
    Thanks Bern - boy you are quick off the mark for a Monday morning, I haven't even finished my first coffee [;)]

    Thanks for the update - and I know, based on my two visits, how busy things are in Grays Inn right now. Just a few more weeks of driving my battered Fiat Punto then...

    Cheers,

    Alan
  • Bern.
    Bern. Posts: 58
    2 hour ride this morning and in the office for 7.30.

    Hopefully extra mechanics on board soon to help claw back on builds.
    BERNIN RUBBER
  • AndrewJcp
    AndrewJcp Posts: 33
    Hi Bern,
    Your commitment to this board is very impressive.

    What wheels, stem, seatpost etc are standard fit-out for the Ultegra version of the Baracchi?

    Can you give a guide as to lead time on custom build-up, please?
    Thanks,
    AJ

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