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Condor Frame or “off the peg”?

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  • June 25, 2012 at 6:40 pm #16172
    swansfan

    Advice please!

    Getting fitter now so looking to suppliment the Ribble winter trainer with a bike to join my local club with, but also to start doing ‘sportives’. Been looking at Cube Agree and other similar bikes, but have an opportunity to have a custom build on a Condor frame which could work out very similar on the money side of things. Frames mentioned were the ‘Italia’, ‘Squadra’ and the more expensive ‘baracchi’.Not intending to be a racer so comfort over the longer distances more of a priority.

    Which way would you guys go?

    Thanks! 🙂

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  • July 3, 2012 at 5:35 pm #688569
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    bashthebox

    I’ve got a Condor. 2009
    I’ve got a Condor. 2009 Baracchi in blue (in the sale), built up with 2010 Centaur. It’s very pretty indeed, but… and this is a huge but…..

    It’s not a good frame if you want responsiveness, stiffness, feel of the road. It’s just a soggy beast really, hates descending fast, and is heavy enough that it doesn’t exactly leap forward when you put the hammer down.

    Now I know that you say you want it for relaxed sportives, but to be honest I never feel relaxed on it when I’m going fast downhill or into a corner. It just wallows too much.

    Condor are a lovely shop to deal with but they are expensive. As other posters have noted, you don’t get the best bang for your buck either. I’m going to hazard a guess that their top end frames are lovely, but for mid range I have my doubts.

    July 3, 2012 at 4:17 pm #688567
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    gazer117

    Hi, well i’d say about 80% of
    Hi, well i’d say about 80% of those in Bynea don’t race. There’s a huge range of different abitlities, most won’t race and enjoy the Sportives / club run side of things, nto to sure about PTW, check out the Bynea Facebook page is probable the best, it would give you a feel for waht goes on in the club.

    Gareth

    June 30, 2012 at 4:19 pm #688565
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    swansfan

    Hmmm, as I said at the start
    Hmmm, as I said at the start of this, I’ve fancied a Cube CTC for a long time, but I have to say I wouldn’t buy a washer from Tredz, even if I was desperate! All they want is your cash, and they’ll sell you anything, and tell you it’s right for you, just to get the sale 😕 (in my humble opinion)

    June 30, 2012 at 11:33 am #688563
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    Mostyn

    Frget the Condor! get
    Frget the Condor! get yourself along to Tredz Cycles and Buy the Cube Agree GTC Pro or Race; I have the GTC Pro; and I love it! They are a really comfortable bike to ride, have eye-catching looks, and they fly along with ease.

    I suggest you try a few bikes before deciding.

    June 29, 2012 at 6:15 pm #688561
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    swansfan

    To answer the comments in
    To answer the comments in order….

    not sure about which club to join. I live in Port Toilet….ooops, sorry Port Talbot 🙂 so PT Wheelers would be obvious choice, but they (and Bynea so I’m told) are quite heavily racing biased and I’m too old to start racing!

    The shop is the one at Cross Hands, and like you I’ve passed it many times!

    As for the famous blue bike, well the Gran Fondo was top of my list until the possibility of a custom fit came into the equation, but have no problem with Ribble, this one has been faultless!

    June 29, 2012 at 1:38 pm #688559
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    andylul

    You have a Famous Blue Bike
    You have a Famous Blue Bike and didn’t consider the Sportive Bianco, the Racing or the Stealth?

    Just ordered myself a Stealth for what’s left of the summer – should be with me in time for the Haywards Heath Howler or the Exmouth Exodus…

    June 29, 2012 at 8:29 am #688557
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    pjay

    I have an orange Fratello. I
    I have an orange Fratello. I love it.

    June 29, 2012 at 7:39 am #688555
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    nellybuck@msn.com

    Is that the one at Cross
    Is that the one at Cross Hands? Driven past there hundreds of times but never been in. That may have to change when I’m looking for a new bike later this year, now that I know they do Condor.

    June 28, 2012 at 6:06 pm #688553
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    swansfan

    OK it’s getting 100% for
    OK it’s getting 100% for Condor from you fella’s which makes the choice pretty easy! 🙂 So, next question;

    I see that the nearest stockist to me is

    County Cycles near Llanelli

    fortunately not too far from me at all. So does anyone have any feedback on those guys please?

    Thanks

    June 27, 2012 at 9:01 pm #688551
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    racingcondor

    Pretty obvious where my vote
    Pretty obvious where my vote goes (see sig) and as Bedfordshire Clanger says the point is that you get something that fits and that meets your expectations.

    Condor have been with me through 3 bikes and from complete road newbie (dumb questions and all) to road racer and wheel builder and have taken the time to help me as much as I’ve needed it when I have.

    My advice, go with the Squadra, it’s always been a great bike (although the Super Acciaio is my next frame). You will get something that fits because the stem, bars etc will be right and you’ll benefit from it.

    June 27, 2012 at 2:09 pm #688549
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    Bedfordshire Clanger

    I’m a very happy Condor owner
    I’m a very happy Condor owner and I can only echo what thereandbackagain said. You won’t be able to beat the likes of Canyon for the price of their kit but you will get an excellent fitting service, an honest opinion on finishing kit to match your budget and complete choice of components as well as a workshop that takes pride in keeping the bikes they have sold in perfect condition if you live close enough to make use of it. It’s best to go at a time when they aren’t busy to be sure that you don’t have to wait around to use the jig or for one of their sales people to be available. So if you can avoid lunchtimes or weekends that would probably be best. You’ll need a good couple of hours to talk through options and try out different bars, stems, cranks etc. Good Luck with it. Julian does a great job of the sales and fitting process.

    June 26, 2012 at 7:43 pm #688547
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    swansfan

    Wow! Thanks guys, that’s very
    Wow! Thanks guys, that’s very positive for the Condor then! 🙂

    “Mind if I ask what those frames are made of and how much they cost?”

    For your info, Mr Notfastenough,

    Italia; £549.99 Dedacciai Force 7003 triple butted alloy with Deda Nero full carbon fork.

    Squadra; £899.99 Carbon modular with Deda drive and Condor 1 1/2″ o/size carbon fork.

    Barrachi £1499.99 Condor RC11 Carbon with Deda black wave carbon fork

    Also been advised elsewhere that for comfort they make a wicked steel frame called the Acciaio (also by Mr Murcuryone) which is £749.99. Don’t have details of the superacciaio tho sorry :/

    I feel a shop visit coming on!!!!! B-)

    June 26, 2012 at 10:21 am #688545
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    notfastenough

    Ooh, I just looked at the
    Ooh, I just looked at the Squadra, it’s gorgeous!

    I want one. I fancy Shimano Ultegra, but I think a frame like that needs some Campag TLC perhaps.

    June 26, 2012 at 9:15 am #688543
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    thereandbackagain

    Go for the Condor.
    If you go
    Go for the Condor.

    If you go the shop you can talk through requirements and get a build that suits you, not the predefined product niches of a larger manufacturer with their “sport” “elite” “pro” and “team” bikes. It’ll minimise the chances of you swapping components out later too.

    They’ll set you up on their bike rig and check for frame size, stem length, handlebar width and shape, saddle type etc.

    My other half bought a Fratello from them. The service was impeccable, and even as a relative novice they were attentive, thoughtful and not patronising in the slightest towards her.

    June 26, 2012 at 8:19 am #688541
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    notfastenough

    Go for the condor. You might
    Go for the condor. You might need to fettle with the geometry over time, changing stem length for example, but unless you’re a really unusual shape yourself, this sounds awesome.

    Mind if I ask what those frames are made of and how much they cost?

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