first bike a condor build?

boborange

Im new to this road stuff and have been looking at a few bikes over the last month or so. Im looking at the condor italia rc, does anyone have experience of this frame and how does it compare with equally priced machines from other makers.

My build is roughy £1919 with shimano 105 group set, campag zonda wheels and deda zero 100 stem/bars.

I like the idea of building my own bike which i did with my mountain bike but pricing it all up i reckon if i buy the frame seperatley and build it myself i can save £330 for the same spec so coming in at around £1600.

is my £1600 better spent elsewhere such as the de rosa milanino?

thanks for your thoughts

Jezzag

I've been watching this thread in the vain hope that someone might have some words of wisdom and experience.

I'm interested because I'm in a similar boat looking at Condor offerings (Acciaio or Fratello in my case) but also wondering if something like the Milanino is a better value bet.

Did you come to any conclusions yet?

thespanishadam

As your first bike, Condor is a good option. Purely on the fact they will size you up for the correct frame/stem/bars.

As for what you are looking at, I would personally swap the 105 shimano for campag veloce. That's my preference, I just couldn't mix 105 with campag wheels...

Jezzag

I'm looking at Athena and Fulcrum Racing 3 wheels for my build.

mroli

The Condor Italia is a perfectly decent bike - my mate rides as a Cat 3 on one and does pretty well. If you are buying from Condor, you are paying a slight premium in that you are buying from a central London shop and paying a little for the brand name. But you should get exactly the bike you want with the exact spec you want and they should fit you properly and get you the right bike for what you want. I like Condor bikes, they are a proper family business and do a lot for UK cycling.

The Accaiao and the Fratello are different bikes - the Accaiao is a steel racer and the Fratello is more of a light tourer/audax bike.

If you find out you don't like riding, then Condors hold their resell value pretty well. Ask them to chuck in some cages/pedals or something as well and it'll be a better deal, or if you're going to build it yourself for £1600, tell them that you would do that and therefore can they come down a bit - worth a punt. If you just buy the frame, I'm not sure if they'd size you up.

Jezzag

I'll get a spin on the Acciaio and Fratello in a few weeks when I visit but looking at the geometry of the two frames there doesn't seem to be much difference other than more clearance for wider tyres and a slightly longer wheelbase for comfort and to allow mudguard fitting. There have been comments / reviews that the Acciaio can feel a little harsh for a steel frame so OI'm wondering if the Fratello's differences might mitigate this.

daviesee

I can confirm that the Fratello is certainly not harsh.
It is built for comfort rather than racing.
The times that I have been putting down my maximum power (damn Strava) I can feel it flex.

Crankbrother

I'd never buy a bike that you.can buy as frame only ...

For the bike you are looking at I'd say Campag. Veloce would be a good match ... I'dscour the net for ITM millenium parts to finish it just to give it a bit of old school cool ... If not deda is a good option ...

bluedog99

Hope you don`t mind me jumping in on your thread, i`m looking at Condor and have thought about the fratello and also the Classico. Does anybody have any experience of the Classico bike. Cheers .

Jezzag

@crankbrother - why would you never buy a bike that you could buy as frame only? Curious...

samsbike

I love condor bikes as I bought my first mtb from them, back in the day.

However, back to the point. For that type of budget I would look at gettting a professional bike fit (around £300) and then the balance on something from Canyon, Rose etc.

If you are wedded to steel, you could get a genesis equilibrium and have that built up to your spec or look at someone like Mosquito bikes who do some very nice steel rides. They also have a comprehensive bike fitting service and I think the fitting service is deducted from the price of the bike if you end up buying from them.

boborange

thanks for your replies.

I have not gotten any further as i have been riding my 7 year old specialized sirrus hybrid around richmond park every evening after work and realised im very unfit. takes me 27 minutes to do a lap but doing 16 miles a night so hope that time will drop in the next few weeks.

anyway rather than have all the gear and no idea i thought my fitness levels do not deserve a brand new bike so my reward for getting fit will be a new bike.

im still looking at condor italia rc and going into the shop in the next couple of weeks for a test ride along with the carbon squadra as well. im leaning more towards campag than shimano 105 and i when i asked they will still fit you if you just buy a frame but its £80. i think i will buy all the bits elsewhere and get my lbs to make it up for £80.

saw a bianchi sempre in black the other day and can buy it on finance (cant get finance at condor) which i quite like aswell. think i need to test ride all 3 then see where i am then.

daviesee

boborange wrote:

.... i when i asked they will still fit you if you just buy a frame but its £80. i think i will buy all the bits elsewhere and get my lbs to make it up for £80.

Will you save much more than £160 by buying the parts separately? Enough to justify the hassle of 2 shops and the delay? Just asking.

Crankbrother

Jezzag wrote:

@crankbrother - why would you never buy a bike that you could buy as frame only? Curious...

To clarify, I was meaning the complete bike ... Insomuch that an off the peg bike will always have something not quite right with it (stem/tyres/saddle etc) and if you do your research you can usually build it to a better spec using discounted parts for the list price of the complete bike ...

So buy the frame and spec/build your own from that base ...

Unless the bike is on sale and negates any changeover issues ...

jonny_trousers

I should begin by saying that my thoughts are primarily academic, as I've never bought a new Condor, but I can really only think of two reasons for paying the considerable premium they charge over similar quality bikes: 1. the customer service (this includes the correct fitting), and 2. you want the prestige badge of Condor (nothing at all wrong with that if you've got the money.

The Italia's a pretty bike, but from what I've read, it's not stand out better than the numerous other quality aluminium frames out there.

The Squadra, as above only read carbon for aluminium.

The Acciaio is slightly more unique in that it is a steel road bike, but it only ever seems to receive lukewarm reviews.

The Fratello really is a fantastic bike (I've owned one), but it is a specialist machine and like someone said above, more of a tourer than a road bike.

Although there really is something special about Condor, if I had £1,900 to spend on a bike I'd be shopping elsewhere. Focus or Canyon perhaps for carbon, Rourke for steel.

mroli

@johnnytrousers

I agree with you in that customer service and badging are big ticks in the condor box. I also don't disagree that you can buy Focus and Canyons online for less - but you can't test ride a Canyon or a Focus (as far as I know) and Condor's can also be built up to your EXACT spec - whilst with online bikes you are (understandably) linked into the specified options. Another positive for Condor is the 1 month check - ie once the bike is bedded in, they'll give it a check over, make sure everything is right with it etc.

Condor also design their own bikes, everything down from the pro-leggero. A proper innovative UK company (with a factory in Italy).

I'm a fan (as you can probably tell) and own Condors - I know I could probably get more bang for buck elsewhere, but I like my Condors.

They also do Cycle to Work if that helps at all!

the_fuggler

I have no experience of Condor to offer. All I can say is that I believe cycling and bike choice is a heart decision not a head decision. If the Condor makes you happy then go for it. Having something you love will ensure you ride it a heck of a lot more.

racingcondor

I'm another person who will say that paying the mark up for Condor's service is worth it especially if you're not 100% sure what you need. They have spent a huge amount of time and effort getting things right for me from my first bike (Italia) where during the fitting they stuck with me 1/2 hour past closing to get it right and did it again on my most recent where my increased fitness meant I was looking for a more agressive set up.

You aren't just paying for the bike, you're also paying for the option to get something that suits you and has components that are of the quality you want. Buy a bike online and it will be cheaper but not once you've replaced the stem (too long/short) and the bars (for a shape that's comfortable) and that's assuming you have enough experience to know your size in the minefield that is todays market where every frame is a slightly different shape...

You won't regret a Condor (or in my case 3). You might regret an off the shelf purchase.

ugo.santalucia

racingcondor wrote:

I'm another person who will say that paying the mark up for Condor's service is worth it especially if you're not 100% sure what you need. They have spent a huge amount of time and effort getting things right for me from my first bike (Italia) where during the fitting they stuck with me 1/2 hour past closing to get it right and did it again on my most recent where my increased fitness meant I was looking for a more agressive set up.

You aren't just paying for the bike, you're also paying for the option to get something that suits you and has components that are of the quality you want. Buy a bike online and it will be cheaper but not once you've replaced the stem (too long/short) and the bars (for a shape that's comfortable) and that's assuming you have enough experience to know your size in the minefield that is todays market where every frame is a slightly different shape...

You won't regret a Condor (or in my case 3). You might regret an off the shelf purchase.

Indeed, you can't regret a Condor...!!

ugo.santalucia

racingcondor wrote:

I'm another person who will say that paying the mark up for Condor's service is worth it especially if you're not 100% sure what you need. They have spent a huge amount of time and effort getting things right for me from my first bike (Italia) where during the fitting they stuck with me 1/2 hour past closing to get it right and did it again on my most recent where my increased fitness meant I was looking for a more agressive set up.

You aren't just paying for the bike, you're also paying for the option to get something that suits you and has components that are of the quality you want. Buy a bike online and it will be cheaper but not once you've replaced the stem (too long/short) and the bars (for a shape that's comfortable) and that's assuming you have enough experience to know your size in the minefield that is todays market where every frame is a slightly different shape...

You won't regret a Condor (or in my case 3). You might regret an off the shelf purchase.

Indeed, you can't regret a Condor...!!

Jezzag

Thanks for the positive feedback guys. Your experience chimes with my thoughts about buying online, or even stock off the peg, and then having to change stuff for a better fit.

Rourke bikes have a great reputation, unfortunately its almost impossible for me to get them. Looking forward to getting measured up.

jonny_trousers

There's always Roberts in Croydon if you do want to try bespoke steel, but if not, I'm sure you'll be delighted with a Condor. Personally, at that price, I'd steer clear of the Italia, but that's just because I'm not a fan of aluminium.

Good luck!

Jezzag

Steel for me. Aluminium for the OP.