Condor Heritage or Surly LHT?

[jjb]

I once got fitted for shoes at a specialist running shop and came out with a pair two sizes too big.

I think both these bikes are winners and you should allow visuals to sway you in this choice. I'd struggle to pick. Often the only way to be decisive in such a matter is to be very fickle. I can't see the racing green paint frame on the Condor site, which irks a bit, so on that basis alone, I'd pick the LHT. But only if it were available in that blue colour still. Actually, you might give the LHT a whirl for 5 years then swap in the Condor for a bit, just for fun. Harder to go the other direction maybe, cheap frame to dear frame, so, yes, my vote is for LHT first.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I once got fitted for shoes at a specialist running shop and came out with a pair two sizes too big.

I think both these bikes are winners and you should allow visuals to sway you in this choice. I'd struggle to pick. Often the only way to be decisive in such a matter is to be very fickle. I can't see the racing green paint frame on the Condor site, which irks a bit, so on that basis alone, I'd pick the LHT. But only if it were available in that blue colour still. Actually, you might give the LHT a whirl for 5 years then swap in the Condor for a bit, just for fun. Harder to go the other direction maybe, cheap frame to dear frame, so, yes, my vote is for LHT first.

Yes, it's a shame there's no photo of the green Condor. But it has to be said, if I ever notice a bike and think ''that's a lovely looking bike,'' it very often turns out to be a Condor.

 

[jorgemartin]

Thanks all for the advice. I have decided to go for the Condor Heritage. Why?

- The main deciding factor had to be the fitting service offered at Condor. You choose a saddle, a type of handlebar and you sit on the jig. Not only they tell you frame size but reach, stack height, stem length, handlebar width, saddle height... This information is very valuable to me as I spend a lot of time on the bike and comfort is paramount... I went down to Brixton cycles and the sizing advice was a bit more casual than I would like it to be... They suggested a 62 cm frame, of which they had a complete bike in the store. It seemed all-right but I was afraid that it would be too big. 5 minutes of cycling in the vicinity of the bike shop could not provide reliable information as to the long term effect of sitting on the saddle for extended periods of time. The frame suggested at Condor Cycles is 58 cm... which comes as a bit of a surprise to me, being 193 cms tall (with an in-seam of 94 cms).

- Both bikes are very attractive. The Condor is probably the better looking one. In fact, I think it is stunning. I love it in British Racing Green. Surly LHT at the moment is only available in black and grey.

- Condor is a London-based business. Their shop is a mere 15 minutes ride away from home and their frames are made in Italy. Surly is US-based and their frames are made in Taiwan. Having the choice, local-European sounds more attractive than US-Taiwanese...

Cheers!

 

[jjb]

Sounds good, well thought through! The local / Italian thing too, very good point. Sounds like a fine excuse for a tour out to Italy some day.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Pics asap

 

[Crankarm]

Nice bikes Condors. I 'm sure you and your Heritage will be very happy together.

 

[P.H]

I think between those two, I'd have made the same choice fro similar reasons. Hope it provides many miles and smiles.

 

[jorgemartin]

The Heritage bike on the M41 ("Silk Road"). Noman's land between Kyrgysztan and Tajikistan. Kyzyl Art pass. Trailer: Carry Freedom Y-Frame.

 

[Sterba]

Wise choice

 

[P.H]

Looks great, very purposeful. I don't usually see them with such big tyres, good to see they have the option. Hope you're still happy with it.

 

[jorgemartin]

Used 700x45 tyres which just about fit with modified mudguards. Condor recommend 37c tyres. I guess that this is a bike that feels more comfortable on smooth European thoroughfares than than on rough exotic roads but did a good job. 50 mm tyres would've been better.