Condor Fratello, Ribble Reynolds 525 or other?

oliver_tate

Hi all,
I've been reading the forum for a while but first time posting.

Here's my dilemma...

I need to buy a new bike as my current SS is falling to bits and I'd like to go for a better all around bike - with gears this time. Ideally, I'd like something suitable for daily commuting but also for some club racing and light touring.

I've been in love with the Fratello for some years now at it does seem to fit the bill rather well, however at £1600 for the full built I'm not sure I can justify it.

After extensive research I'm no closer to come to a decision but have shortlisted a few - more affordable - options:

- Ribble Reynolds 525 Steel (£600 on sale)
- Ribble 7005 Audax (£500 on sale)
- Cinelli Experience (£1000 at Evans)

I know that someone will come along and suggest the Equilibrium which is fair enough but there's something about that bike that puts me off... Not a fan of the paint job and I feel like the Cinelli would give me more quality/durability for the money... maybe not!?

What are your thoughts on this? Shall I go for a more economical option and see how I get on with gears, geometry, etc and maybe upgrade as time goes or shall I just take the plunge on the Fratello and be done with it?

Thank you!

shirley_basso

Ribble doesn't have clearance for more than 23mm tyres if you want to fit mudguards.

I'm surprised you cant find something for 1k built up.

If you know your size, then used is definitely the way to go at the budget end.

joe_totale-2

How about a Triban 540?

Pretty damn cheap, will be as fast as the other bikes you've mentioned and it can do touring as it has rack mounts.
Fairly sure it can take mudguards and 28mm tyres as well.

svetty

Trying to find something that is suitable for all-weather commuting and racing is stretching versatility a bit. CAAD 12 c clip-ons?

singleton

If you're thinking of a Cinelli experience, how about a CAAD12?
Planetx have some Ti and steel frame options that may be worth a look
Or a Bowman frame is about £750.

bmxboy10

I had a Fratello Disc. It was nice but nothing special. That said if it’s what you want then that’s the one to get. Buy the frame and build it yourself that way you will save a few quid.
I just bought one of these so may be worth a look.
https://www.moda-bikes.com/products/mod ... o-frameset

oliver_tate

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Ribble doesn't have clearance for more than 23mm tyres if you want to fit mudguards.

The 7005 Audax doesn't and it's pretty much out of the equation because of that. The 525 has clearance for 25mm according to Ribble and just seems like a very good deal.

I'm surprised you cant find something for 1k built up.
If you know your size, then used is definitely the way to go at the budget end.

Yeah, there are plenty of options in that price range. The thing is I find they tend to be either cheaply made/with cheap components or very ugly - hardly surprising, I know
I've been looking at used stuff for the last couple of months but haven't really come across anything suitable hence having decided to go for new. I'm a small person and 49-52 frames don't tend to come up very often.

The Triban 540 is a good shout, I'd just feel a bit uneasy buying a bike from Decathlon and not from a bike shop. Do they offer bike fitting?

Trying to find something that is suitable for all-weather commuting and racing is stretching versatility a bit. CAAD 12 c clip-ons?

I know, I know, asking a bit too much. I don't mean any kind of serious racing BTW just having a bit of fun with the club.
I did consider the CAAD12 but would rather not be forced into clip-on mudguards and would you take it touring? Also the version with the 105 group is over 1k which opens a whole new range of possibilities - including the Fratello.

As for frames and build myself option I don't have the skills or the tools to do it so that's pretty much not an option ATM. Quite like the look of that Moda Issimo though!

wotnoshoeseh

If your heart is set on the Fratello (and I don't see why it shouldn't be - I'm a fan, myself) then go for it.
OK It's expensive when bought off the Condor full build, but as Solboy says buy the frame and build yourself.

£800 for the frameset, Tiagra groupset <£300, Deda finishing kit <£100, Mavic Aksiums (or similar) £130-140, tyres & tubes <£50, and you could have it for <£1400. Probably less with some savvy buying!!!

alan_sherman

Boardman ASR for a bit of steel is real with disk capability.

lakesluddite

alan sherman wrote:

Boardman ASR for a bit of steel is real with disk capability.

Ooh, just looked at the ASR 8.9, good call! Hydro brakes, 105 groupset, lovely paintjob.

Plus, joining British Cycling (if not a member already) will get you 10% off at Halfords or Bike Republic.

oliver_tate

Thanks all!

As I say, I'd be a bit nervous getting a frame and build it myself. Also, buying the tools to do it would add to the total cost and I don't think all in all it's worth the hassle at this stage.

So I've gone and "tried" the Triban 540 - rode a Large size inside the shop, so not sure you can call that trying a bike but anyway... also been to Cycle Republic to look at the Boardmans.

- The Triban feels nice, specially if you think it's an <£700 bike, good specs etc. and I'd be very tempted if it wasn't for the fact that Decathlon (not a proper bike shop, blablabla) and not being able to test the bike properly.

- Boardman: Cycle Republic didn't have the ASR but I tried the SLR 8.9a which is somewhat similar to the Triban albeit sturdier and it does seem better built and a step-up from the Triban BUT is the price difference justifiable?

They also had this Basso Monza at around the same price tag as the Triban but with a slightly lower spec - https://www.cyclerepublic.com/bikes/roa ... -2018.html - Is it even worth considering??

I'd love the CAAD12 with 105 but then I'd start getting into the over £1200 range and knowing I could have the Fratello for a couple of hundred more I don't think I could buy any other bike in that price range. So I've decided to stay under the 1k mark for this reason.

I still quite like the look of the Ribble Reynolds 525 but it doesn't seem to have many supporters around here - I wonder why - and I'm nowhere close to Preston so can't go and try it, should I forget about it and look into better option withing this price range?

svetty

Not quite where you've got the idea that the Fratello is the gold standard from. It's a relatively heavy so-so steel winter/light touring frame. The CAAD12 is a finely honed best of breed aluminium frame slanted more to performance.
In other words they have different design briefs but don't differ greatly in quality.

DeVlaeminck

Is there much on the market that will take 25mm tyres with mudguards and uses long drop rim brakes? There used to be quite a few bikes of this type but that was back when we all used 23mm tyres.

ovi

DeVlaeminck wrote:

Is there much on the market that will take 25mm tyres with mudguards and uses long drop rim brakes? There used to be quite a few bikes of this type but that was back when we all used 23mm tyres.

https://www.damianharriscycles.co.uk/prod/rac_0018_jq/fuji-sportif-2.1-2018-road-bike?gclid=CjwKCAjw2_LcBRBYEiwA_XVBUxVGkn6OgCgZGvmG1-LpAHBcgUCjELH7_H_unsdqJTqmz6CqI3dbMRoCVmgQAvD_BwE

oliver_tate

Svetty wrote:

Not quite where you've got the idea that the Fratello is the gold standard from. It's a relatively heavy so-so steel winter/light touring frame. The CAAD12 is a finely honed best of breed aluminium frame slanted more to performance.
In other words they have different design briefs but don't differ greatly in quality.

I get what you're saying, I know they're designed to serve different proposes. I don't think the Fratello is the gold standard hahaha, I just really like the looks of it and the fact that it's a well built frame that can potentially last a lifetime - so, long term investment and all that. I'd also feel safer in the hands of Condor's staff when it comes to bike fitting and advice and that's got to be worth a few extra quid...

joe_totale-2

DeVlaeminck wrote:

Is there much on the market that will take 25mm tyres with mudguards and uses long drop rim brakes? There used to be quite a few bikes of this type but that was back when we all used 23mm tyres.

Giant Contend and both the carbon and alloy Boardman 8.9's spring to mind.

ayjaycee

FWIW, I've just bought a Kinesis Racelight 4S frameset which should do everything that the original post stipulated and gets very good reviews. My short term plan is to transfer the groupset (Tiagra 4600), wheels (Mavic Aksiums) and finishing kit from another bike and I've also got a pair of TRP RG957 long drop brakes and mudguards to go on it. Hopefully, I will then be able to recoup some of the costs by selling the older frameset (Specialised Allez Elite 2015). In the longer term, I might decide to go for disk brakes as, unusually, the bike is designed to take either disk of rim brakes.

bmxboy10

oliver_tate wrote:

Svetty wrote:

Not quite where you've got the idea that the Fratello is the gold standard from. It's a relatively heavy so-so steel winter/light touring frame. The CAAD12 is a finely honed best of breed aluminium frame slanted more to performance.
In other words they have different design briefs but don't differ greatly in quality.

I get what you're saying, I know they're designed to serve different proposes. I don't think the Fratello is the gold standard hahaha, I just really like the looks of it and the fact that it's a well built frame that can potentially last a lifetime - so, long term investment and all that. I'd also feel safer in the hands of Condor's staff when it comes to bike fitting and advice and that's got to be worth a few extra quid...

Looks like you have answered your own question buddy.....

faster97

DeVlaeminck wrote:

Is there much on the market that will take 25mm tyres with mudguards and uses long drop rim brakes? There used to be quite a few bikes of this type but that was back when we all used 23mm tyres.

The Ribble 7005 Audax does. I believe they have recently designed it to take long drop brakes. The pre-redesign ones use short drop brakes, but still take 25mm tyres and mudguards comfortably - even with wide rims. Mine does anyway - great bike too!

oliver_tate

faster97 wrote:

DeVlaeminck wrote:

Is there much on the market that will take 25mm tyres with mudguards and uses long drop rim brakes? There used to be quite a few bikes of this type but that was back when we all used 23mm tyres.

The Ribble 7005 Audax does. I believe they have recently designed it to take long drop brakes. The pre-redesign ones use short drop brakes, but still take 25mm tyres and mudguards comfortably - even with wide rims. Mine does anyway - great bike too!

Ribble have just confirmed: "the Audax will only fit 23mm with mudguards, any bigger and they will rub against the mudguard."

The search continues...

ayjaycee

As I said in my post yesterday, I'm planning to put together a latest generation Kinesis 4S which takes long drop brakes and Kinesis have confirmed to me in an email that it will take 25mm tyres with their own 'full’ mudguards (aka Fend Offs) easily. They also said that 28s should also be OK depending upon which tyres and how their profile sizes up.

faster97

oliver_tate wrote:

faster97 wrote:

DeVlaeminck wrote:

Is there much on the market that will take 25mm tyres with mudguards and uses long drop rim brakes? There used to be quite a few bikes of this type but that was back when we all used 23mm tyres.

The Ribble 7005 Audax does. I believe they have recently designed it to take long drop brakes. The pre-redesign ones use short drop brakes, but still take 25mm tyres and mudguards comfortably - even with wide rims. Mine does anyway - great bike too!

Ribble have just confirmed: "the Audax will only fit 23mm with mudguards, any bigger and they will rub against the mudguard."

The search continues...

Yes - they've been saying that for years, but I'm sure I'm not the only one having no trouble running 25mm tyres and mudguards. I suspect they just don't want the hassle when someone struggles with a combination of mudguards/tyres/rims/brakes that doesn't work together.

Having said that, a few points to consider.

Mine works fine with Rubino Pro 25c tyres on 23mm wide rims with the supplied Zefal narrow mudguards. No rubbing/clogging whatsoever. These tyres are true to size though - I doubt 25c GP4000 or any Michelins would fit. Then again, the 23c probably would come out at over 25mm anyway.

MIne is a 60cm frame. I have no idea whether the clearance is as good on the smaller sizes.

The metal bracket that attaches the guards under the rear brake reduces the clearance significantly. This needs to be binned, two very small slots dremelled into the guard, then the guard can be cable tied on using a small cable tie around the caliper bolt. This sounds like a bodge, but is actually very neat and reliable and better than the metal bracket in every way. I've had almost 7,000 trouble free miles from this set up.

I suppose it is a bit of a risk if Ribble say no - maybe mine is a one off and just has the brake bridge welded on a bit too high up!