Any fratello owners
Any Condor Fratello owners out there. G/friend thinking about replacing Alu Ribble (cheap but not comfortable for her) with something better for long audax (200km+) in winter/wet weather. the budget won't stretch to a Ti bike but the Fratello looks v.nice. Any owners out there who are happy/unhappy with theirs?
M.Rushton
M.Rushton
M.Rushton
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Oooh yessss... How much time do you have!
Superb bike.
The 531 road bike hit the shed 20 years ago.
As a no-options-left begrudging fitness attempt, I bought a Frat. for the weekend commute. Delivered on approx. Jan 2nd.
Loved it so much, I've now got back on the bike, did the UCI Tour of Wessex day 1 (short 55 - which turned in to a 62), and haven't stopped since -
Except to go back and buy a second Condor (Squadra)!
Check out the "Ask Bern" forum previous pages - lots of Frat. comments.
What groupset?
I went for:
Red frame with black Ventos/guards/rack.
Veloce compact (50/34), medium cage deureilleur, 13-29 cassette, uplifted saddle to Fizik Pave (recommended Edit: Not sure if there is a womens' version), changed bars to ITM Marathons (very good/comfortable if you only ride on the hoods, but look a little odd).
25c GP4000 reflective sidewalls.
What would I change? Perhaps a set of handbuilt wheels, especially if you're carrying a load. The Ventos are very nice, but a little racy.
My wife uses Campag. over Shimano - I think the levers are more small-hands friendly than Shimano - though it does mean i'm at risk of losing Frat. parts [;)]
Demos available at the shop by pre-arrangement.
Speak to Ronan - superb spec. process and great jig setup pre-purchase for sizing.
Be patient with the build time.
Phone ahead to ensure you get seen.
The ride? Nice and sporty without being too reactive.
Edit: There's a strip of pave behind the store that's a good test.
The seatstays are shaped to add comfort.
If you don't need mudguards/rack, then the Belissima is the model with a shorter top tube (women's geometry).0 -
I have one. Use it in the main for 11 mile commute out of London plus occasional longer rides. Very happy, would recommend definitely. Open Pro wheels on 105 hubs - pretty tough for the lovely London roads.
Last bike was aluminium flat bar road bike. No comparison!0 -
Just been reading 'Ask Bern' Is he switched on or what? If all bike shops had a guy like him i could have saved a lot of money over the years (or frittered it on even more kit[:D])
M.RushtonM.Rushton0 -
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by mrushton</i>
...Is he switched on or what?....<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Ah - Now this is the beauty of Condor....
I've been speaking with Ronan - Walking in with my credit card for a bike was only the beginning of some great advice.
I recently upgraded my early Shimano SPD touring shoes at Ronan's suggestion, to something stiffer to eliminate foot pain.
"Talk to Carl" he said.
Carl looked at my feet, listened to my waffle on my foot problem, then returned about 30 seconds later and said "try these"...
They were the most comfortable perfectly sized pair of shoes I've bought - and cheap too.
"But how do you know what size feet I have?"
"Oh, I just looked!"
(There were no size labels in the shoes I was wearing)!
Saving money:
Talking to the guys in the shop: "I've looked at your spec. It will cost you only 100 quid to upgrade to Ultegra, after you apply your customisations"
"Your stem comes with Titanium bolts - if you go for the steel bolts, the price is halved"
Fantastic advice - They didn't lose money, as I then had some spare cash for other parts. Besides which, I keep going back!0 -
Great bike. Comfortable and well built frame.
(however im selling mine to get a full carbon racier bike, so if you're after a 53cm get in touch...)0 -
I just ordered one on Friday. I'd recommend your girlfriend go in to the shop and try one out. Even if it's the wrong size you can tell if you like it or not. JW, I think that Shimano are more small-hand friendly than Campagnolo.0
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Molly - I've got both - The Shimano seems to require more reach to get to the levers, which are longer and require more swing for both up and downshifting.
It's also easier to use the Campag. thumb buttons if you're riding on the hoods, and I find the Shimano levers have a slightly heavier action.
Edit: I would concede that there are some Shimano levers available with adjustable reach, whereas with Campag what you see is what you get.
Glad you like the Frat - what spec. have you gone for?0 -
I've gone for Shimano 105 and the only thing I've changed is the saddle. The default option looked quite manly and last time I borrowed my boyfriend's bike it hurt to pee afterwards
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Molly - Nice.
With hindsight I would have spec'd my Frat. with 105, and my Squadra with Veloce - If you go for the Campag. option on the Frat., you end up with Tektro brake calipers due to the fact that Campag. don't make deep drop brakes....
The one thing I notice on the 105 setup is that the brakes are, comparatively, really powerful!
Which saddle?
Did you go for red and black? What was the default? The Agio?
mrushton - been in for a recce yet?0 -
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by JWSurrey</i>
With hindsight I would have spec'd my Frat. with 105, and my Squadra with Veloce - If you go for the Campag. option on the Frat., you end up with Tektro brake calipers due to the fact that Campag. don't make deep drop brakes....
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
You can always spec Campag everything with the Shimano deep-drop brakes. That's what I've got on my Audax bike.
Saw a lovely red Fratello last night in Richmond Park. Bit gutted I didn't get one as my Audax bike. Redeemed myself with a Condor Tempo purchase though
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If I had a baby elephant signature, I'd use that.--
If I had a baby elephant signature, I\'d use that.0 -
JW - I can't remember the saddle names. I tried out a Fratello and the saddle was much too narrow. I think the one I got instead is a Condor saddle which is a bit wider and more padded. I went for red and black. Cannot wait for it to arrive though I'm a bit nervous having never ridden anything but a mountain bike before. Bit worried that I'll forget it's not my usual bike and hop on/off footpaths etc on the way to work and break it.
I took the plunge and decided to go for drop bars for the first time in my life. The only think I chickened out on were the pedals. I've always been a bit nervous about having my feet clipped to the pedals. I'll get there eventually but reckon I've got enough to get used to for now.0 -
Seem to have toasted my back this weekend playing with the hedging, so am not at work today and *not* cycling [B)]
Was curious on the saddle, as my wife uses a standard saddle that will probably at some time need changing.
Red&Black - Cool. Works really well.
You're doing exactly the same as me and a few others - The Frat. will look after you!
I previously rode an MTB for about 20 years before getting back on a Frat. - Low speed corners, signalling, and pedal overlap were the main initial points of concern, though only really a problem with U-turning on streets, and pedestrians stepping out when turning corners. Now no longer an issue.
I've found my front Vento wheel (similar to the Fulcrum) to be pretty solid, even after the odd unavoidable pot hole, running 100% true still, however I take care of the back wheel and am conscious of loads - It's very slightly out of true now (about 3mm) - which is not bad considering my choppy roads and light pannier load - I'm an 80kg lump.
They're very racy, lightweight wheels, so if you feel uncomfortable - which is doubtful as the frame's great, change it for a 32H handbuilt (something that came up in a magazine review).
I too went with normal (MKS) quill pedals and toestraps, which are actually still on it - Handy as you can use BS approved pedal reflectors, normal shoes, and ride legally after dark.
Was so pleased with the bike I went back for a Squadra (with clip-ins) and smashed my PBs for distance/time/climb.
Who did your order? The wait for delivery is worth it!0 -
Peter took my order. I think I was convinced to go for a Fratello partly due to your enthuasism Interested in the "ride legally after dark" comment. When is it not legal to cycle after dark? I'll have lights front and back but in winter will commute in the dark morning and evening. I don't think I've got reflectors on the pedals I've got on my MTB. 0
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Well, it's rarely enforced, however here's a good article on the CTC site:
http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4071
Essentially:
4x BS pedal reflectors
1x rear BS red reflector
1x BS front light, or flashing light conforming to RVLR
1x rear lamp conforming to BS or flashing red conforming to RVLR
Personally, as a car driver on the same unlit country roads on which I cycle, I find orange pedal reflectors bouncing up and down with the pedal strokes, highly visible and cannot recommend them more.
After walking through the local head-unjuries ward at the hospital, and meeting a poor guy who was rammed by an off duty police officer in a turbocharged Renault 19, who couldn't even move to prevent himself from choking, I really think as much hi-viz. as possible is worthwhile.
Anyhow, enough of the morbidity - The Frat's a fantastic ride - with plenty of places to hang reflectors and lights, in addition to the one on the mudguard.
At the weekend we had a few envious looks from the local CTC, one guy at Peaslake came over for a chat and took it for a quick spin - Picture me watching him vanish round the bend, wondering if he was going to come back! Then another up at Box Hill!0 -
Molly
I think JW's comment is specifically about the reflectors on the pedals - you have to have them to be fully road legal (yes, in addition to lights). I don't think you'd ever get pulled over by the fuzz - but if you were involved in an accident, being able to say that you were 'road legal' is an important part of any legal proceedings.
I have a set of Shimano M520 SPD pedals (I know you're not keen on clipless - I wasn't either - but I'd rather get out of a pair of them quickly than a pair of toe clips/straps). You can get a set of plastic 'platforms' for them which clip on to one side (making one side of the pedal a standard platform). And they also have reflectors on them - ticks all the boxes for a commuter pedal as fas as I am concerned - and they are dead cheap.0 -
Spot on Alan - Hope I wasn't inferring not riding at night etc!
I have a pair of A520s on the road bike - so if anyone has any idea how to fit pedal reflectors, I'd be grateful!
The Frat. has, as of this Sunday, (sorry can't remember the type designation) Shimano pedals with a cage on one side, SPDs on the other - they look really ugly, however I can mount reflectors on the cage.
I found training on the Frat. with normal toeclips to be beneficial in terms of then putting in a storming time wearing SPDs on the road bike, for little or no extra effort!0 -
JW
Not sure that the A520s can take a reflector - the shimano website doesn't seem to think so.
The clip on adaptors for the M520 are of the sort shown here and work very nicely (and add hardly any weight) -->
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... gory=361370 -
Interesting. I was just wondered if the law technically applied to clipless as there often just isn't room for reflectors and even if they're there they wouldn't be very visible.0
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Amusingly, one of the reasons it's become popular to sell a bike without pedals is because it is then, in the eyes of the EU, classed as a kit of parts rather than a complete bike - which would have to come with a bell and reflectors!
One can legally ride a bike without pedal reflectors, provided it's not dark / low visibility, however yes, after dark one should technically have BS pedal reflectors even with clip-ins; which leads on to the question of needing pedal reflectors for recumbents!0
