Giordana XL Strada vs Mondonico ride quality
06-23-21, 11:38 AM
#1
EngrJack
Thread Starter
Giordana XL Strada vs Mondonico ride quality
Hi Bicycle friends,
I’m interested in a couple of large frames for building a road bike. 59 & 60 cm seat posts. One is a Giordana XL Strada and the other is a Mondonico. I’ve never ridden either brand and my experience is limited to a 25.5” Trek 710, a Trek 720 Multitrack 24” frame, and a size XL Trek Dual Sport 2. They all ride very differently and the old ‘81 710 is my favorite for a fun ride quality.
Can any of you with experience in Italian made bikes, and specifically Giordana and Mondonico please give me your thoughts? I’m leaning toward buying the Giordana XL Strada and I’m aware that it was the plain Jane frame of the Giordana family. Would it ride differently than a XL Super? It has French EXCELL tubing and is lugged.
The Mondonico is also lugged and has Columbus Nemo tubing. Which bike would ride better with identical components?
I’m interested in a couple of large frames for building a road bike. 59 & 60 cm seat posts. One is a Giordana XL Strada and the other is a Mondonico. I’ve never ridden either brand and my experience is limited to a 25.5” Trek 710, a Trek 720 Multitrack 24” frame, and a size XL Trek Dual Sport 2. They all ride very differently and the old ‘81 710 is my favorite for a fun ride quality.
Can any of you with experience in Italian made bikes, and specifically Giordana and Mondonico please give me your thoughts? I’m leaning toward buying the Giordana XL Strada and I’m aware that it was the plain Jane frame of the Giordana family. Would it ride differently than a XL Super? It has French EXCELL tubing and is lugged.
The Mondonico is also lugged and has Columbus Nemo tubing. Which bike would ride better with identical components?
06-23-21, 12:33 PM
#2
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@EngrJack - I would be somewhat surprised if anyone could give you a definitive answer. Mine would be to buy both and find out. Then the one you don't prefer gets sold. Or..... you can start with N+2/!
I am not familiar with either but if the geometry is nearly alike then you might be hard pressed to be able to tell the difference without many K miles of riding.
When i think Italian, I think racing geometry, that is just me. That means nearly impossible spacing for fenders and very responsive steering or steep angles and more like your 710. You might be hard pressed to tell the difference between the 710 and the two under consideration. I might be all wet!
I am not familiar with either but if the geometry is nearly alike then you might be hard pressed to be able to tell the difference without many K miles of riding.
When i think Italian, I think racing geometry, that is just me. That means nearly impossible spacing for fenders and very responsive steering or steep angles and more like your 710. You might be hard pressed to tell the difference between the 710 and the two under consideration. I might be all wet!
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06-23-21, 04:39 PM
#3
EngrJack
Thread Starter
@EngrJack - I would be somewhat surprised if anyone could give you a definitive answer. Mine would be to buy both and find out. Then the one you don't prefer gets sold. Or..... you can start with N+2/!
I am not familiar with either but if the geometry is nearly alike then you might be hard pressed to be able to tell the difference without many K miles of riding.
When i think Italian, I think racing geometry, that is just me. That means nearly impossible spacing for fenders and very responsive steering or steep angles and more like your 710. You might be hard pressed to tell the difference between the 710 and the two under consideration. I might be all wet!
I am not familiar with either but if the geometry is nearly alike then you might be hard pressed to be able to tell the difference without many K miles of riding.
When i think Italian, I think racing geometry, that is just me. That means nearly impossible spacing for fenders and very responsive steering or steep angles and more like your 710. You might be hard pressed to tell the difference between the 710 and the two under consideration. I might be all wet!
06-24-21, 08:19 AM
#4
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Hi Bicycle friends,
I’m interested in a couple of large frames for building a road bike. 59 & 60 cm seat posts. One is a Giordana XL Strada and the other is a Mondonico. I’ve never ridden either brand and my experience is limited to a 25.5” Trek 710, a Trek 720 Multitrack 24” frame, and a size XL Trek Dual Sport 2. They all ride very differently and the old ‘81 710 is my favorite for a fun ride quality.
Can any of you with experience in Italian made bikes, and specifically Giordana and Mondonico please give me your thoughts? I’m leaning toward buying the Giordana XL Strada and I’m aware that it was the plain Jane frame of the Giordana family. Would it ride differently than a XL Super? It has French EXCELL tubing and is lugged.
The Mondonico is also lugged and has Columbus Nemo tubing. Which bike would ride better with identical components?
I’m interested in a couple of large frames for building a road bike. 59 & 60 cm seat posts. One is a Giordana XL Strada and the other is a Mondonico. I’ve never ridden either brand and my experience is limited to a 25.5” Trek 710, a Trek 720 Multitrack 24” frame, and a size XL Trek Dual Sport 2. They all ride very differently and the old ‘81 710 is my favorite for a fun ride quality.
Can any of you with experience in Italian made bikes, and specifically Giordana and Mondonico please give me your thoughts? I’m leaning toward buying the Giordana XL Strada and I’m aware that it was the plain Jane frame of the Giordana family. Would it ride differently than a XL Super? It has French EXCELL tubing and is lugged.
The Mondonico is also lugged and has Columbus Nemo tubing. Which bike would ride better with identical components?
I'm not too clear on Giordana frames. I also have a Mondonico in SL but some lighter gauge TT and DT, and its ride is great. Before the frame repair with the newer tubes, it felt stiff. Hot, but stiff.
The Nemo has a lot in common with the ELOS, so I would say it is probably the better/more comfortable ride.
06-24-21, 11:00 AM
#5
EngrJack
Thread Starter
Thanks!
I have a Mondonico in Columbus ELOS tubing and it has a very smooth, efficient, resilient ride quality. I attribute that to the combination of thin-wall 7/4/7 Nivachrom tubing and the first-step over sized diameters (TT and ST are 28.6 mm and the DT is 31. whatever mm). the Nivachrom steel is a lot like 853, in that it has a lot more strength (resistance to fatique and other breakage) than SL or regular 531, so it is very durable with the thin walls.
I'm not too clear on Giordana frames. I also have a Mondonico in SL but some lighter gauge TT and DT, and its ride is great. Before the frame repair with the newer tubes, it felt stiff. Hot, but stiff.
The Nemo has a lot in common with the ELOS, so I would say it is probably the better/more comfortable ride.
I'm not too clear on Giordana frames. I also have a Mondonico in SL but some lighter gauge TT and DT, and its ride is great. Before the frame repair with the newer tubes, it felt stiff. Hot, but stiff.
The Nemo has a lot in common with the ELOS, so I would say it is probably the better/more comfortable ride.
