TM's Rapha Condor

I picked this up off the forum intending to use it for a fixed tour and then sell it on, fell in love with the way it rides and decided to keep it.

I was thinking this morning about all the different guises it's been through, and thought I'd like to put to together a little timeline....

Being bored at work on a Saturday morning can be tough.

This is how I first had it built.

Then it got spok'd

I think this was the moment love first blossomed...

Also crashed it the day after and put a tiny chip / ding in the top tube which I felt gutted about, was just glad I didn't right it off...

Was time to prepare for the tour, so fitted levers, a ti post and a new saddle...

Then luggage...

Got hammered the night before at a North Race alley cat, and had accumulated a few spoke cards...

But was en route to France, in one piece (apart from my collarbone which I found out after the tip was still broken when we set off) to embark on one of the best trips of my life...

Here we see the Condor out of it's natural habitat, chilling on the beach...

and in full loaded damaged saddle bag bungee'd together luggage state...

So had a wicked trip on it, upon returning to the UK though got distracted with other bikes and ended up leaving it un-used for a couple of months... Considered selling but couldn't bring myself to do it. Then I found deep carbon...

Which inspired me to get it built into the bike it deserved to be....

Was now back to loving it, the Campag/DuraAce combo was niggling me a bit though so final touch was a 7710 chainset...

Condor love had fully developed now, don't think I'll ever be selling this. Such a pleasure to ride, and I think it looks both classy and triple badass, not often attributes that go together....

All that's changed recently is got a new clamp for the seatpost as it kept slipping, and got some gloss black touch up paint which I've been touching up the scrapes with, just need some t-cut to polish them in.

Great thread. Probably my favourite bike of yours, TM.

I told spotter to buy this

It is bloody lovely Tom!

I also told spotter to buy this! It was for sale for sooo long, and no one would have it. I guess I get the last laugh.

Cheers JB, it's my favourite as well, just such a pleasure to ride.

Ha, thanks JW!

I like the story and the pics! Great thread.

Cheers mands...

Also came in useful in tarp erection...

And a pretty picture with the 2 other bikes on the trip, somewhere in France...

probably the only frame i would swap for my seta

Some more photos from the trip...

Couldn't believe I forgot to include the impromptu track session...

Literally just rocked up and asked if we could play....

And a bit of light off road...

There were some pretty hilarious videos from the trip as well, including me riding around a BMX track fully loaded, and doing some sweet fixie skids, will see if I can track them down.

Not sure you'd be keen on a swap if you saw the footage Eingang!

what was the route of your trip if you don't mind me asking?

Can't remember the exact route, the jist is, we set off from St Malo, headed South west to the coast, think we hit the coast around Lorient, then headed down the coast all the way to San Sebastian.

Some more photos from the trip...

I think I know where this is...

I love this one Tom.

On your tour did you have a bag on your back too or did you fit everything in the saddle/frame bags?

I've ordered one of the new BRP saddle bags with the hope of doing a few short trips this year. I think the 13l capacity should be ample with a few other bits strapped to various places like you've done.

So many good times! Remember when we got wasted in the bar about half way through? you and Candian doing that dance move to follow the leader!

Tim do you still have a photo of the map with the route marked out?

Dom, yeah fit everything in saddlebag,framebag and jersey pockets... Frame bag is a must with the BRP saddlebag I'd say, the others used those Carradice bags which were a fair sight larger, and easier to pack/access...

Remember when we got wasted in the bar about half way through?

how could I forget?

I think you've got all the worst ones of me.

Here's some intsgram stuff... I've still got the maps, me and canadian mapped out what route we could remember some i'll try take some better photos!

I've just found the video of freestyle condor jumps!!!

Can you upload it?

Looks like you guys had a great time!

One day I will your fixed, one day.

Well, i know what i'm going to spending the weekend doing. Planning for summer.

Great photos/story

Just uploading to youtube!
Some more...

fuckin lolz

One of the most incredible journeys i've done and would recommend it to anyone!

Video uploading as we speak!

what kind of average daily mileage were you guys doing?