1993 Condor Professional 653 (Dave Yates built)

[LondonClassic]

The stiffness you mention could just be dirt so as a first go maybe some 3 in 1 or similar lube down the cable hole in the lever - that can transform shifting. Failing that, I had my ergos brilliantly servced by year1cycles a few years ago - who while they were their fitted record internals into my 10sp Centaur R hand shifter. They can do all sorts of stuff, like add or remove speeds as well.

 

[sjcprojects]

The stiffness you mention could just be dirt so as a first go maybe some 3 in 1 or similar lube down the cable hole in the lever - that can transform shifting. Failing that, I had my ergos brilliantly servcied by year1cycles a few years - who while they were their fitted record internals into my 10sp Centaur R hand shifter. They can do all sorts of stuff, like add or remove speeds as well.

Yes, it does feel gritty when it comes to the end/top of the sweep where those last clicks are. I'll try some lube in there and see how it goes. I do actually have another exact same shifter which I bought for another build which seems fine, so if I fail to get this one to be smoother I'll just swap it over. I'll have to get the wet and dry out because that one is quite scratched up so I'm hoping to avoid needing to do the swap. I want to get this bike out into the sunshine one way or another...

 

[sjcprojects]

Finished. I took it out for a short spin today, but tomorrow I'll do a proper 25 mile shake-down ride.






Condor 1993 Professional

Frame and Fork: Reynolds 653, built by Dave Yates, renovated by Blue Whippet Paintworks.
Headset: Campagnolo Veloce
Stem: ITM 400
Handlebar: 3ttt Ergo Power Due
Bar Tape: Condor Supremacy
Bottle Cages: Condor
Saddle: Selle Italia Flite Titanium
Seatpost: Unbranded
Brake Calipers: Campagnolo Chorus
Levers/Shifters: Campagnolo Athena
Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Chorus
Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Chorus
Chainsest: Campagnolo Veloce CT 50/36T (polished)
Cassette: Campagnolo Veloce 11-27T
Chain: KMC 8 speed
Bottom Bracket: Mavic 610 RD
Pedals: Shimano Ultegra (polished)
Rims: Campagnolo Omega Hardox
Hubs: Campagnolo Veloce
Skewers: Campagnolo Chorus
Tyres: Vittoria Rubino Pro 25c

 

[sjcprojects]

It wasn't a bad day for a shake-down ride . Comparing this bike with my 531-framed MB Dronfield from 1994, there's not much to tell them apart, they're both equally nice I would say on first impression. Both are the same size, with similar geometry, and this one weighs almost exactly 10kg, which is also very close to the MB (any weight saving with the 653 frame is probably negated by the use of Campagnolo parts... ).

This one's been a longish journey, but definitely worth it, when comparing to how it was when I got it.

Thanks to @mdvineng @Kempes and @Walterscot for their invaluable help with this one.

 

[sjcprojects]

I've done a bit over 150 miles on this now, over the usual Peaks roads with plenty of climbs, both long and short. One thing I have had to change is the FD, as it really is designed for a 52T chainring. The 50T chainring meant the chain had a tendency to slip off through the too-large a gap between the FD and chainring. Really this should have been obvious, but I optimistically thought I could get away with it. I couldn't, so I've put on a FD for a triple that I already had, which has solved that issue for now.



The brakes are nice and solid, I have no complaints at all there. I'd say they are better than any single-pivot brakes I've used, but unsurprisingly not quite up there with dual-pivot ones, although comparing the 105 dual-pivot brakes from the same era with these monoplaner ones I don't think there's that much to choose between them.

I've not used Ergopower shifters for quite a few years, so it's taken a little while to get back into using them. They certainly look better than the STI shifters that were out at the same time, but ironically given the name, they are less ergonomic, I've found. In particular, the cable routing where the gear cables go on the inside of the bars puts the cable right under my wrist when on the hoods, which is not comfortable. I can see why some people put both cables on the outside of the bars, and I did think about doing that, but decided against it. I might change it at some point.



The bike feels particularly good on long climbs and when cornering on descents. It's probably still a bit early to give a proper judgement, I feel like you have to live with a bike for a while to really get a feel for it, but overall it rides as nicely as it looks.

 

[Nob]

That’s a rather nice looking Tanzinite Blue

 

[sjcprojects]

That’s a rather nice looking Tanzinite Blue

Thanks, I’m definitely pleased with my choice of colour and how it works with the white elements. It’s also pretty close to a colour that Condor offered at the time the bike was built.

 

[pwebb]

Great result

 

[JCS]

That looks stunning. You have done a fine job of the rebuilt and refresh!

Do you get many comments from other cyclists when riding it? To me it looks so much more refined that the typical modern carbon road bike.

 

[sjcprojects]

That looks stunning. You have done a fine job of the rebuilt and refresh!

Do you get many comments from other cyclists when riding it? To me it looks so much more refined that the typical modern carbon road bike.

Thanks. Yeah, I’ve had a few comments, usually from people who used to ride something similar back in the 90s. They definitely appreciate it but at the same time are somewhat surprised/bemused to actually see someone riding one! Such is the usual fate of the retrobiker