• Specification

• Price: £749.99 (frameset inc. fork, headset, seat clamp) or as shown £2,034.89
• Frame weight: 1,600g (claimed)
• Complete bike weight: 8.2kg (as tested)
• Sizes: 46, 49, 52, 55, 58, 61cm
• Size tested: 55cm
• Website: Condor Cycles

Aside from the carbon bikes beneath John Herety’s ‘Men in Black’ at Condor JLT, Condor are well known for their artisan steel frames – from the Fratello all-rounder to the Super Acciaio 2.0, the first UCI-approved steel frameset. The new Italia RC, however, is made from aluminium. While riders in 2016 understandably lust after carbon fibre, and steel continues to have its own unique aura, can aluminium ever be sexy? It can if it’s done right and the Italia RC is undeniably a beautiful frame, but aluminium has plenty going for it in performance terms, too.

Alloy had a short life at the top and the last major victory aboard an aluminium frame came from Marco Pantani, who rode a Bianchi Mega Pro XL at the 1998 Tour de France. The following year Lance Armstrong came along and won cycling’s greatest prize on a carbon frame and that was it. Everyone wanted carbon (and a yellow wristband).

Superb handling

The best thing about the Condor Italia RC, quite simply, is its handling. At the front end, that tapered headtube, combined with the Deda Stream full carbon fork and the sorted geometry, delivers flawless handling. Tracking is spot on, which gives the bike a surefooted sensibility which inspires fast, confident riding. Handling is such an important part of the package – putting a bike together to cheat the wind is one thing, but making up ground in a straight line counts for nil if the rider is has to back it off in corners – and Condor have got it spot on here for a fast, aggressive race bike which still has a confidence-inspiring stability about it.

The Italia RC comes in at a claimed 1,600g for a 55cm painted frame and in this build our complete bike weighs 8.22kg – no heavyweight but it’s not particularly light, either. To be fair, Condor aren’t renowned for making especially svelte bikes, but if you want one of the lightest alloy frames on the market then the likes of the Canyon Ultimate AL SLX, Cannondale CAAD12 and Trek Emonda ALR are nudging down towards the 1,100-1,200g mark, though they don’t all necessarily state the size of the frame and whether it’s painted when weighed.

In terms of ride quality, Condor have countered the old adage that aluminium provides a rough ride – it’s surprisingly smooth. Comfort always used to be the sticking point with aluminium – it appeared to amplify the road noise like the Rolling Stones backline – but production of alloy has moved on significantly in that regard. The Italia RC is so well honed it figuratively puts in earplugs in to quiet the noisy chatter from the road. Condor have also ensured the frame can take up to a portly 28mm tyre, which is a sensible move.

Conclusion

Let’s start with homage to aluminium. Its life in the pro ranks was cut short but in 2016 aluminium still has its merits. Lots of them. It’s affordable, generally lighter than steel, and still has a genuine performance edge which was good enough for Pantani in 1998, and for riders like Conor Dunne today. It’s for those reasons – and, crucially, that if you crash it an alloy frame is more durable than carbon – that aluminium is a sensible option for amateur racers.

Still, the Italia RC deserves more than being confined to the race track. It’s certainly not the lightest alloy frame out there – and that may be a sticking point – but the handling is spot on for a frame like this, it’s a stiff chassis, and sensibly priced alongside other high-end alloy frames. Oh, and it’s a right looker.

Pros

• Pinpoint handling
• Good value for a stunning frame
• Ample scope for customization (spec/geometry/colour)

Cons

• There’s no getting away from it; it’s a little heavier than other top-end alloy frames