Condor Fratello or Boardman Team Carbon

FranMartin

I'm days away from having my Halfords Bikescheme voucher in my hands and thought I'd pretty much decided on a Condor Fratello with Shimano 105.

I've just seen a Boardman Team Carbon that's caused me to have a last minute wobble - does anyone have any thoughts?

I'll be doing a 64 mile round trip commute probably twice a week.

alfablue

The mudguard facility on the Fratello is very important on a commuter. You can get another voucher and get the boardman next year.

dilemna

IMHO The Condor Fratello is a far better proposition however nice the Boardman might seem to you. They are actually two quite different types of bike. The Condor will no doubt last a lot longer than the Boardman which is just a factory bike. Plus Condor are a proper bike shop unlike Halfords. Condor know everything about bikes where as Halfords don't. Condor will give you a much better service. It's like chalk and cheese really. In the end you get what you pay for.

Kirklet

I've never quite understood the strange snobbery surrounding the boardman bikes. Pound for pound they can't really be equalled. I've got one and it's sweet as a nut !

giant_man

+3 for the Condor - brilliant value!!

billy whippet

Undoubtably the condor for what you're suggesting - a robust, beautiful bike that will last for years, withstand everything you can throw at it, take guards (essential for commuting) and 28c tyres. They ride beautifully. The boardman is a good bike, just not for what you're suggesting. If you were asking buying advice for an all out race bike in a country that never saw rain, it may be different...

FranMartin

Thanks for the posts.

You've helped me banish the wobble - Fratello it is!

And maybe the Boardman next year?

giant_man

But which colour will you go for? They do this year's model in yellow (ugh!), champagne or slate grey. Shame they're not still doing last years colours and graphics - the black with the large condor graphic was lovely:

http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/article/mps/uan/2804

Scoutie

I've got both bikes.
Go for the Condor to start with. It's a good bike.
However, do go for the Boardman next year. It is an amazing bike. Light, strong, comfortable.
I do a 40 mile round trip commute. If the roads are wet when I set off - out comes the Condor (mudguards). If they're dry - I choose the Boardman every time.

bompington

So do you guys not get changed when you arrive at work? I commute, on hill country roads in Scotland I might add, which means that the only days between October and April when the roads aren't wet are the ones when it's below freezing, and they're always muddy. You get used to the taste of salt and the feel of grit in your teeth. I arrive at work looking like something from a horror film - then I have a shower. If I didn't have access to showers at work, I couldn't commute, full stop - guards wouldn't make a lot of difference.

I'm thinking of buying a Boardman too, the appeal of an 8kg bike + the reviews mean it's hard to ignore - I second Kirklet's opinion, perhaps if they called it the Bordmanio or something then all the roadies would lap it up. The poor knowledge and after-sales at Halfords are a matter of record, but I'm not spending £500 more on an equivalent bike at the LBS just for that.

billy whippet

I have the Condor, and an OCLV trek with 10 speed 09 chorus - but love the ease, ride and guards of the condor, plus not having to worry about the weather conditions. The condor feels special - out of London, they are rare.. the trek, although three times as expensive, doesn't feel as special... I'd get Campag rather than Shimano anyday though if you haven't already ordered the fratello

FranMartin

billy whippet wrote:

I have the Condor, and an OCLV trek with 10 speed 09 chorus - but love the ease, ride and guards of the condor, plus not having to worry about the weather conditions. The condor feels special - out of London, they are rare.. the trek, although three times as expensive, doesn't feel as special... I'd get Campag rather than Shimano anyday though if you haven't already ordered the fratello

The Shimano hoods seemed more comfortable during the short try-out - I had to reposition my whole hand when changing gear on the Campag rather than just moving my thumb on the Shimano. I have no particular allegiance and am still not 100% decided though so feel free to persuade me otherwise.

PeteinSQ

The Fratello will be much more versatile as you can fit a rack as well as mudguards so if you ever felt like going touring you would be able to. The boardman is a proper racing bike and won't be as versatile but will be faster.

billy whippet

As we all know, Campag/Shimano is down to preference... one isn't necessarily 'better' than the other (when comparable groupsets are compared) although it is sometimes said that (despite being italian) Campag is better than Shimano at dealing with our winter roads - grime, wet, salt, dirt etc and always has v precise shifting feel... my commuting bike actually does use shimano and never seems to last more than one winter - have replaced shifters/bottom bracket/both derailleurs/ etc... but irrespective of which may or not be 'better' I just love campag - the look, feel of the levers, way they shift... it always feels special... I'm afraid for me Shimano looks and feels 'low rent' and mass produced by comparison... purely subjective! 105 would serve you well... and you would kind of just not notice it... but campag equilavalent may lift your spirits every time you ride!

FranMartin

billy whippet wrote:

105 would serve you well... and you would kind of just not notice it... but campag equilavalent may lift your spirits every time you ride!

Very eloquently put Billy Whippet - I'm all for anything that lifts the spirits! I shall have to have a longer test drive of both.

vimmer

Cant understand people who are quick to put down boardmans, they are an exceptional bike with good quality components. Cycling plus were quick to give the team carbon "best bike for under £1,000", you cant say fairer than that. My only advice be to buy it from a stand alone bike hut rather than a Halfords store.

bompington

I'm with you there, Vimmer, I'll just nip along to my nearest Bikehut which is just... err... 480 miles away. I don't suppose I can persuade my employer to change the C2W scheme to them either.