Calling all Condor Fratello Owners – please post details of your bike / model year etc.

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Holio cornolio

Senior Member
Location
Essex
I’ve been a Fratello owner for a few years now, I own other bikes, but my little orange Fratello has gradually become almost the only bike I ride. It suits me perfectly, does almost everything I need and to my eyes is a very pretty little bike. I know I’m not alone and I’m calling to other Fratello owners to try and compile a sort of register of the evolution of the bike. If money was no object, I would happily seek out every iteration of the frameset so that I could appreciate the changes and evolution of the bike, but that’s sort of the antithesis of the point of the machine, and actually, money is kind of an obstacle to that. So if you’re interested and reading this, if you own a Fratello or have access to one, please consider contributing to the thread with the details of your own machine. I’m assuming that the geometry hasn’t changed much if at all over the years, but if you know otherwise, pipe up. I’m interested in changes in tubeset, tube shape, weight, etc etc.
So I will start: Mine is (I guess) a 2012 model from the frame number – 12/125xxx it bears a sticker at the base of the seat tube which reads SAT 14.5 18MCOV6 micro alloy which presumably is a tube set drawn specifically for Dedacciai. Being 2012, it is of course a rim brake version, and has the pioggia carbon fork, which accommodates up to 28mm tyres with mudguards, but needs long drop brakes. The fork actually has a carbon steerer tube, but that’s bonded to alloy at the top of the fork. It’s not a particularly heavy fork, nor is it super light, but it is quite comfortable, and stiff enough.
The top and downtubes are almost triangularised (I’m sure they’d be described as ovalised, but they are more triangular than oval). The seat tube does not appear to be shaped at the ends, I see no obvious hexagonalisation, as described for current versions, but it could be that I just can’t see it because I don’t know what I’m looking at.
The rear triangle is characterised by the curve of the seatstays which I think is particularly elegant, and does lend a large degree of comfort. Despite having room for big (28mm) tyres and a mudguard, the rear brakes doesn’t actually need to be long drop. Standard drop brakes will work perfectly well here, but who wants a mix and match brake set? Cast dropouts aren’t particularly elegant or pretty but serve their purpose, and are robust. When I rebuilt the bike last year I weighed frame and forks (incl bottom bracket) at 2.3kg give or take.
Despite reports of fragile paint, mine seems pretty robust. It’s the classic orange colour and touch up paint bought from Condor in RAL 2004 (fratello orange) is an all but perfect match, as I have had a few spills requiring some remedial paintwork (some of it very agricultural looking).
I’ve tinkered with various parts over the past few years and settled on what seems to be my perfect setup for now, and fully dressed in summer outfit (carbon clinchers and no guards) she weighs in at 9.1kg, and she carries a little extra weight in the winter from the alloy rims and mudguards.
What have I missed?
If you have a fratello from another year, or a different iteration, please do contribute any relevant details of the frame here and post pics too. Will add some details in due course, but for now, here she is in summer boots and in winter boots.
PSX_20200802_101644.jpg

PSX_20201028_141458.jpg
 

TempleDancer

Active Member
That's a nice bike. As it happens, I was idly browsing Condor's site just yesterday evening.

What are the qualities of it that you like most?

From reading up on it, it looks a bit of a Jack-of-all-trades which to me makes it sound (potentially) a bit dull to ride, but (at least aesthetically) I do find it's honest simplicity appealing.
 
I owned a 2017 Fratello Disc. Not dull in the slightest. A cracking bike. Unfortunately circumstances meant I had to sell as needed the funds elsewhere but as it happens I have a thread going at moment on a new Condor. Bivio and Fratello are two choices so be interested to see replies to this thread. I am thinking a fratello Thru axle with Campag Potenza and Mavic all roads
 
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Holio cornolio

Holio cornolio

Senior Member
Location
Essex
That's a nice bike. As it happens, I was idly browsing Condor's site just yesterday evening.

What are the qualities of it that you like most?

From reading up on it, it looks a bit of a Jack-of-all-trades which to me makes it sound (potentially) a bit dull to ride, but (at least aesthetically) I do find it's honest simplicity appealing.
It's extremely comfortable and also very quick. My 'best bike' is a look 785rs and although the handling of the look is sharper, the condor is easily as quick, but has the clear edge in comfort. I realise that the following marks me out as what I am - a dull mamil - but the fact that it takes big tyres and full length mudguards without issue or fuss makes it very practical and if I should ever need to use a rack (god forbid) that's catered for too. I think jack of all trades is not the fairest description. I wouldn't take it on anything rougher than a farm track or a towpath, but it's an accomplished audax machine, a capable fast trainer and a passable light tourer. I'd probably even race it... If I ever raced.
 

TempleDancer

Active Member
Thanks, that is very interesting. Surprised you say it is as quick as your 785RS (another very nice bike BTW). Surely the Condor falls behind on hills with it's weight penalty? I guess this is very rider dependant stuff though.

How do you find the sizing? Looking at the geo, it has a very tall front end for my typical medium. Stack is almost 590 for my usual size, so I might have to size down and have a slightly longer stem.
 
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Holio cornolio

Holio cornolio

Senior Member
Location
Essex
Thanks!

OK I should qualify that 'quicker' statement. I am not a cyclist who is going to get full benefit from a bike like the Look. It's more bike than I need or frankly deserve. Mid life crisis purchase. It's lovely, but overspecced for a someone with my power to weight ratio and riding habits / preferences. So over the course of a typical ride for me, which could be anything between 1 hour and 8 hours, the Fratello is easily as quick as the Look. However on the (very) rare occasion that I put in a bit of effort to generate some watts, I will concede that the Look has the advantage in speed.... but.... I struggle to maintain high watts for more than a couple of minutes, and so on any climb (and I live in Essex, so that's a pretty liberal use of the word climb) that lasts more than 3 minutes, the Condor has all the stiffness and power transfer I can use. I wouldn't profess to offer accurate size guidance, but I'm 175 tall, with long legs / short torso, and I ride a size 52 Fratello. I think sizing is pretty standard. I guess it all depends how you like to be positioned on the bike. my saddle to bar drop is about 85mm if that is any help at all (to give you an idea of how racy or otherwise my position on the bike is)?
 

bitsandbobs

Über Member
Mine is from 2004/5 I think (receipt is in the shed). Sadly, not one of the better colour schemes - yellow and silver. Initially used as a commuter, so has a few scrapes in the paintwork from d-locking, but subsequently used for audax and a bit of off-roading. It came with campag veloce, but I swapped that out for sram 1x and it now has Nitto seat post, stem and bars. It's a great bike. I don't ride it much these days, but don't think I could get rid of it!
 
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Holio cornolio

Holio cornolio

Senior Member
Location
Essex
Nothing wrong with yellow and silver! If it was fashionable once it will be again. Can you tell me anything about the tube profiles, or post any pictures? It's presumably one of the first generation.
 

ManicDrummer

Active Member
Just picked up a new Fratello (Caliper) frame a few weeks back. Currently building it up with Campagnolo Centaur and Fulcrum racing 4 wheels. Gonna and try and stay with italian branded components as best i can. Does anyone have experience of Vittoria tyres? Also, what size tyres can you run to WITHOUT mudguards, i reckon you might be able to get away with 30c?
 
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Holio cornolio

Holio cornolio

Senior Member
Location
Essex
I think you might struggle with 30c. I've got 28s on mine and they're fine, but I tried fitting some WTB exposure 30c on my fratello and they fouled the fork. No problem on the back but front was a no go. I also had a set of vittoria Corsa which were super comfortable and fast but they were fragile and punctured quite a bit. Tubeless though so never a big problem, but I went for about a month where it seemed I finished every ride on a significantly lower pressure than I started it. Enjoy the bike!
 
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Holio cornolio

Holio cornolio

Senior Member
Location
Essex
I know I'm a couple of weeks late to this, but if you did go for 30s and they worked out ok, please post what you fitted
 

mustang1

Guru
Location
London, UK
I have a 2018 Fratello in blue (or purplish blue, whatever that's called). Disk version using TRP Spyre cable operated dual piston brakes and kitted out with Shimano 105 drivetrain. 28mm Continental GP5000 (moved from the original Panaracer Pasella which punctured too easily). SKS full length mudguards, tubilo (actually come to think of it, I cannot really recall the brand name) steel rear rack. Use it with 2 smallish Ortlieb panniers. I do not use it much these days so it sits in the bike vault with air pressure about half way in the tyres. That reminds me I should make the time to go there and loosen the seatpost clamp so it doesn't get stuck. it sure is a beautiful bike.

Maybe it's about time i remove the mudguards and install wider tyres on it so I can use it more comfortable off road.
 
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