Condor launch revamped Fratello steel 'super-commuter' with disc brakes

The Fratello is a lightweight touring, Audax or 'super commuter' steel road bike from London-based Condor Cycles, and this year it celebrates its 10th anniversary with a new lighter Columbus tubeset and is available, for the first time, with a disc brake option. Don't worry, the Fratello is available without disc brakes as well.

Condor switched from Dedacciai to Columbus with this new version of the hugely popular Fratello, and now use a tubeset based on Spirit triple butted stuff. There's a brand new top tube, a flatter profile tube that is based on the top tube that featured on the Super Acciaio steel race bike. The change of tubeset supplier has resulted in a weight loss for the new frame, it's down a claimed 125g to 1,900g. That’s for a size 55cm.

Apparently it’s taken some time to get the specifics right on this new disc version. They wanted to keep the rear brake caliper inside the rear triangle so there’s absolutely no clearance issue with fitting mudguards and racks, and also clearance for a pannier.

Condor developed their own carbon fibre fork with a straight 1 1/8in non-tapered steerer tube and it accepts 28mm tyres with mudguards fitted. This fork has straight blades, but apparently there is still some debate about whether it should have curve for the sake of aesthetics. 

There are currently very few carbon fibre disc forks on the market that feature a non-tapered steerer tube - we can only think of two and one of them is a cyclo-cross fork.

Cable routing is all very neatly done. Really, Condor have done a really good job of giving the Fratello a disc brake makeover, it just looks right. We'll we think so anyway. We like that the front brake cable is routed inside the carbon fork avoiding any nasty cable ties. Not that cable ties are nasty as such, it's just that really there is no place for them on a road bike. There are the same curved seatstays that have featured on the Fratello for a while now on this new frame 

So to the price. The frameset (with fork) is going to cost £699 and full builds will start from £1,305 with either a SRAM Apex or Shimano Tiagra build. This bike is one exampe of a higher end build with a SRAM Rival groupset and TRP Hy/Rd hydraulic disc brakes, the price should be about £1,400. The Fratello Disc won’t be available until the spring but we’re hoping to get this very bike, once the Cycle Show has wrapped up, in for test.

Dropouts are obviously new to account for the disc brake mount. It's note quite as neat or compact as the previous non-disc dropout, but it fulfills the purpose required of it, and has an elegance of its own.

The frame is available in seven sizes from 46 to 61cm and in three colours; orange, light blue and deep purple. While we’ve focused on the Fratello Disc here, they’re still offering the regular rim brake version and the frame receives the same updated Columbus tubeset.

One detail we really like is the reflective paint on the seat stays that will provide a nice visibility boost when the sun starts setting.

More at www.condorcycles.com

If you haven’t booked your ticket for The Cycle Show yet use the code RCC to get £1.50 off the price of the £13 advance ticket at the www.cycleshow.co.uk website.