Condor Heritage or Super Galaxy?

alfablue

My employer has just launched Cyclescheme.

I am looking for a tourer to do my 14 mile each-way commute (with two fairly well loaded panniers) and for touring holidays.

I want a steel rather than aluminium frame.

I can get a Condor Heritage for under the £1000 threshold, or a Super Galaxy for about £890 (the Ultra Galaxy is just over the limit as although Spa Cycles have them for £975 they add 12% for Cyclescheme sales as the bikes are discounted).

Does anyone hae any experience of these or views regarding the better buy?

wasi

I've got a Cadet, which was the name of the Heritage until last year. After a 1000miles tour last month I am not overly impressed with the bike. It is very heavy and slow - although I should say that I toured on a relatively light bike before so I might be biased. Still, on the last tour I was 2-3k/h slower and did about 20-30k less per day. Also, the bike had a number small problems before the tour. On tour it worked fine. I have never been on a Galaxy so don't really know how they compare.

On the upside, you can specify the components on the Heritage, which I don't think is true for the Dawes.

The experience in the shop was good, incl being measured up on a jig, but I think Condor is more for racers and couriers. Touring doesn't really seem their expertise.

alfablue

Thanks for your views Wasi.

Can you tell me what sort of problems you experienced? WHere they to do with the build-up or components?

What did you tour on before?

I don't think low weight is a virtue of the Dawes either, unfortunately, though the perceived ride weight of often similarly heavy bikes can differ a fair bit in my experience, could be geometry, wheel / tyre weight issues, perhaps.

I already have a Dawes Audax, but it is too flexi in the BB to feel secure when loaded up, and I am commuting and touring at the moment on a converted titanium mtb, - I'd like to have drop bars, and return the mtb to its proper use.

wasi

Before I got the Condor I toured on a Ridgeback Genesis. The difference in speed seems to be related to the weight of the frame as the same wheels and tyres were on the Genesis before. There's a chance I had a little more luggage on the last tour but the basic equipment (tent, sleeping bag, etc) was the same as before so the difference should have been small. Geometry could also be part of it.

The screw of the seat post clamp went ping the day before the tour. No problem to replace it with a new seat post clamp. The only challenge was finding a bike shop in Brussels that was open on a Monday. The second problem is that the threads of the upper braze-ons for the rear carrier rack are worn. Whoever put on the rack didn't pay too much attention.

Harve

I have a new Galaxy ultra ! it a great solid frame and loaded up to the max its fantastic , the rear rack it comes with is of very good quality a CARGO , rock solid , the main bits are XT so much more than that for me and i am not going to notice much difference,(i think people can get a bit carried away with components) I suppose its a little heavy but i bought it for touring only so I am not worried about extra weight, loaded up wth tent, mats, bags, and the like it weighs a ton anyway. I have had a little trouble with the wheels but that was due to my inexperience, they just needed a couple of re tensioning session at the shop.....the brooks saddle is great, but others have had a bad time with them........great bike that will last for ages, and will get me all over europe next year, I have toured on cheap home made MTB'S so this is a bonus !