Condor chrome project - recommendations wanted

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  • Hi
    I am moving back to London this summer and to celebrate I have a project to to convert this lovely old Condor bike I have into a single/fixed for daily use in London and a few excursions no doubt.

    Looks wise you can see in the photo that front and rear forks are chrome so am thinking of going for a chromed out look. Have not set a fixed budget but it will be used daily so top quality parts needed. Here is some suggestions I have had from a friend:

    IRD Freewheel
    Chain Weissstein
    Crankset BLB
    Pedals MKS
    Pedalsptraps/cage

    Any suggestions or ideas for the all parts are recommended as long as they are nice shiny chrome!

    Ping me with any questions.

    Cheers,
    Baggy


    1 Attachment

    • Condor-project.jpg
  • It's a handsome bike. I can't really tell from the picture - but are the dropouts horizontal? You may need a chain tensioner if they aren't, but that's not a big deal.

    Not to be too much of a pedant, but 'chrome' specifically refers to chromium plating which can only* be done over steel. What you want is polished aluminium! It's possible to get an almost-mirror-finish on aluminium; some components come this way from the factory, others you'll have to polish yourself.

    I would say:
    Obviously no need to do anything to the frame or fork - you can clean up the chromed bits of the frame using fine brass wool, followed by Autosol (a metal polish - easy to find in Halfords etc)
    The wheels look good - if they aren't anodized then you can polish them up very easily with wire wool and autosol (the hubs look like old low-flange Campagnolo Record which can be very easily polished - the rims look anodized to me, so unless you remove the anodizing (lots of work) then you won't be able to polish them up to a mirror finish - not a big deal, really). Same with the stem, seatpost, cranks and brakes. If the wheels are freehub then you won't need a freewheel - just use a single sprocket and spacers. Google this if you don't know what it means.

    There's not a lot of point in buying new cranks. The Campagnolo ones you've got are very handsome and probably better quality than BLB ones. Just put a new chainring on them - or re-use an existing one if it's not worn.

    *in 99.9% of cases.

  • @lae: Thanks for the great suggestions and yes I want polished alumiumn so I can see my ugly mug. How much work realistically (i.e. am I looking at a weekend) to hand polish the wheels, stem, seatpost, cranks etc.
    I think the dropouts are not horizontal given its age.
    Not sure what I am want to do on the handle bars but definitely looking to change them & the seat.

  • Dropouts are horizontal. Don't change to much. Follow Lae's tips and you'll ride single speed for <40 pounds and some polish time.

  • How much polish time am I looking at nutsjesmoar?

  • Depends on how much work you want to put into it. As an example I polished my cranks - they were anodized black when I started, and ended up mirror-finish - it took me a whole day.

    If the parts aren't anodized (which the stem, seatpost, bars and hubs probably aren't, but the wheel rims and brakes probably are) then it doesn't take long - half an hour for each part, or so, to get a really good finish. If they're anodized it takes bloody ages.

  • Also, if it's getting used, a good clean up will do.

    So what you need then is:

    • single speed kit (about 15 pounds max.)
    • Maybe some new bartape and a new saddle (not necessary)
    • Maybe some new brake pads and a chain.
    • Some cane creek campagnolo alike lever would look cool

    But as I allready said, making a road bike into ss doesn't cost that much.

  • I would definitely keep the saddle.

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Condor chrome project - recommendations wanted

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