Team Bike: Condor Leggero

The Rapha Condor Sharp team uses the Condor Leggero.

The Development Story

Throughout 2009 team riders were closely involved in developing the Condor Leggero road racing bikes, not only for professional use but also for consumers. Both Dean Downing and National Road Champion Kristian House pushed prototypes to their limit in tough race conditions, including putting their faith in the new design for the Tour of Britain. The result: the new Condor Leggero frame was given their seal of approval.

"For 2010 the Condor Leggero features a new rear end that is lighter and more compliant than in 2009 and complements the responsive front."

The Rapha Condor Sharp team has gone from strength to strength, achieving the position as Britain’s number 1 ranked team within four years, and Condor road racing bikes have been at the centre of this achievement.

The asymmetric head tube again flares from 1-1/8” at the top to 1-½” at the bottom; the idea being that the greater area helps spread the load and dissipate shocks whilst still being stiff when the rider is putting power through the front end in a sprint.

2011 Condor Leggero - Team Bike

Created not just to fit the sleek, pared down look of Rapha Condor Sharp pro team, the Condor Leggero has the substance to match the style.

The frames are engineered through continuous involvement, testing and feedback from the riders. The mix of experienced, decorated riders and new, young talent provides an eclectic mix of feedback, perfect for evolving the bikes for both professional use and cycling enthusiasts.

In 2011 the frame continues to be made by hand in Italy from carbon tubes that are created using nano resin technology. The frames will remain compatible with Di2. The compliancy cut out, which helped Kristian House maintain form and comfort all the way to the line in a solo win at the Tour of Japan, is retained.

"The compliancy cut out, which helped Kristian House maintain form and comfort all the way to the line in a solo win at the Tour of Japan, is retained."

Up at the front a tapered head tube offers front end stiffness, performance under braking, and handling precision, perfect for short bursts and electric city centre racing, as favoured by criterium champion Dean Downing.

BB30 technology is introduced and the tubing profile offers a lighter frameset with a squarer silhouette.

The team will be looking to run a two-tier programme throughout 2011, with riders mixing international stage races and domestic races to achieve their maximum potential, with one tier needing a solid criterium weapon and the other a stage race stallion. Despite differences in the type of racing, one thing will remain the same: the Condor Leggero frameset.

Technical Detail
Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 compatible
Carbon tubeset made using four layers of uni-directional and two directional high modulus carbon layers. Resin containing nano pieces of carbon. This is compressed and resin is forced out while the carbon pieces randomly fills gaps in the fibre, tubing can be made thinner and lighter whilst increasing strength.
BB30 system
Tapered headtube
Internal cabling
Deda Nero Supermacy full carbon monocoque fork
Full Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 groupset (some riders will use Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset)
Shimano Dura-Ace C35 and C50 wheelsets (may vary according to the event)
PRO Vibe 7S stem and handlebars, wrapped with Fizik custom pro tape
Custom team edition Fizik Arione saddle with pink, white and black detailing
Continental Grand Prix tyres, supplied by Continental
PRO Vibe carbon seatpost
Custom Science in Sport water bottles
Limited numbers available in Rapha Condor team colours, available first to Rapha Condor Club members before going on general release
Standard colour - white and silver
Sizes: 49, 52, 55, 58, 61cm