Just in: Condor Fratello Disc

For 2015 Condor Cycles have updated their best-selling Fratello with a new Columbus Spirit tubeset and added a disc brake option. It’ll be available as a frameset or as a complete bike with a choice of builds, we’ve just been sent this £1,700 SRAM and TRP Hy/Rd specced bike to have a spin on.

You don’t need me to tell you that disc brakes are hugely popular in road cycling right now, and they’re perfectly suited to year-round all-weather bikes such as the Fratello. It’s no surprise that for Condor this is their best-selling model, because it’s so versatile. It’s an ideal daily commuting bike, but could equally be pressed into service on a sportive, Audax, long-distance touring or a dedicated winter training bike. Everything, pretty much, except road racing.

The frame has all the necessary mounts for racks and mudguards, and Condor’s new carbon fibre disc fork (with a straight 1 1/8in non-tapered steerer) accepts a 28mm tyre with a full-length mudguard. Rather neatly, the new carbon fork features internal cable routing producing a clean look. The rest of the cables are externally routed along the down tube.

Condor used to construct the Fratello from Dedacciai tubes, this year they have moved to Columbus, using the popular Spirit tubeset as a starting point, with some specially modified tubes. The top tube, with its pleasing squashed oval profile, is a noticeable change from the old frame. There are new dropouts to accommodate the disc brake caliper, mounted on the chainstay, ensuring there are no clearance issues with mudguards fitted. According to Condor the new tubeset has resulted in a weight saving of about 125g over the previous frame, with a 55cm weighing a claimed 1,900g.

Aesthetically it’s a pleasing bike to the eye, and the new tubeset is draped in a lovely paint job. One neat detail is the use of reflective paint on the seat stays, a nice nod towards the sort of riding the bike is typically used for.

Condor Cycles offer the Fratello Disc frameset for £699, available in seven sizes from 46 to 61cm, with full builds starting from £1,390 with Shimano Tiagra and Avid BB5 brakes, and a £1,600 model with Shimano 105, TRP Spyre brakes and Mavic Aksium Disc One wheels. Our review bike has a SRAM Rival groupset and TRP Hy/Rd disc brakes - these feature a hydraulic disc caliper operated by a mechanical brake lever - and costs £1,700. All frame and bike purchases include a full fitting service.

Disc wheel choice if growing all the time, and Mavic joined the party last year with the new Aksium Disc One wheels, which the Fratello is specced with. They're wrapped in 28mm Continental Gatorskin tyres. A Brooks Cambium saddle sits atop a carbon fibre seatpost and there’s a Deda handlebar and stem finishing things off.

The specification doesn’t produce the lightest build, on the road.cc scales it’s a rather sturdy 10.6kg (23.36lb). This isn’t a bike to be raced, it’s a durable all-weather bike so the weight won’t likely be the highest concern for potential customers. There's scope for weight saving though, the Cambium isn’t a light saddle for a start, and at 1,965g the Mavic wheels aren’t particularly light.

Comparisons? There’s the Kinesis Racelight T2 Disc on the horizon, and if it’s anything like the rim brake version road.cc tested last year it should be a serious rival. The Sabbath September Disc is a similarly styled bike but while it impressed Stu, it’s mightily expensive in comparison because of its titanium tubing, but it’s a fair bit lighter. Another British disc-equipped steel option is the Cotic Escapade. 

You want more British steel? Really we’re spoiling you now. How about the Charge BIkes Plug 5, it costs £1,399 and you get a SRAM Rival 22 groupset with full hydraulic disc brakes, but it doesn’t have the carbon fork of the Fratello. As you can see, this category of bikes is hotting up and it’s the Brits leading the way.

More info at www.condorcycles.com