Kästle DIY-Gravel (On The Budget)

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This shall be the thread of mine, that collects my random bike-building bullshittery (is this even a word?). My grammar is rusty, sorry about that.
First things first I live in Hungary, and that ultimately leads to two things: the roads are utterly terrible here, and I'm poor. However that doesn't keep me from building things.
Last year (2015) I've built several ratty commuter bikes, but in the end I've always ended up selling them and building something else.

However this time I would like bring you something that I'm really not planning to sell anytime soon.

The Condor

I've always wanted an English frame. There's just something in them I liked without a proper reason.
This beauty (everything you see in the pic) came up in a local Facebook group for 15 000 HUF (~37 GBP). It was a bargain, however this one isn't and English Condor. Afaik it was made by a Swiss manufacturer, Condor Courfaivre.

Condor frame, 56x56, Reynolds 531 tubing, Gipiemme dropouts (any info on the frame would be greatly appreciated, which year, full model name, etc.).
Stronglight headset and BB, Sakae Ringyo stem, Weinmann 405 brakes, no idea of the seatpost and the handlebar.

It's kinda ratty. Has a few rusty spots, but nothing dangerous, no cracks or dents.

Headtube and seattube:

Plans

I fell in love with this one instantly, so this will be my main commuter.
I'll go for a budget fixed gear build. I'll keep the front brake, just in case (the brake pads need to be replaced though).
The wheelset will consist of double walled aluminum rims (low profile) and a disc brake front hub used as a rear hub, like the Charge Shaker, but way cheaper. As for the crankset I'll go for a 90's Shimano 600, 105 or something in this category, as these go for kinda cheap and won't break after 2 skids. I'll try to stick with silver or maaaybe black colors on both the wheels and the crankset.
I've got some spare 23 mm wide tyres, once I've killed them I'll go for 28 wide ones, as the roads here are bloody terrible.

To be continued.

Updated first post. :)

For 37 quid that is certainly a bargain as long as it is straight and not full of hidden rust! Good luck with the build!

Thank you! Couldn't spot any hidden rust so far, so I'm optimistic.

I missed this first time round. That's a handsome looking frame. You'll probably get better information about it if you post it over on Retrobike. Looks like a 70s frame to my eye. No chrome but it's got good quality dropouts so it must be a mid-range factory-built frame.

Thank you, will post it there in the next few days. I'm assuming it's from the early or mid 80's though, but we'll see, the older the better in my eyes.

I love English frames too. Good first post. Seems that this isn't English, but what the hell it looks good.

Beware that if it is Swiss it may have specifically Swiss threading ... unless someone can tell me I'm totally imagining this, I think I recall learning that fork or bb have separate thread standards to french, italian, english etc.

Good luck with building it, it's nice. Unusual and great to see lining on the top edge if the lugs, and the decal is excellent.

Oh yeah, bullshittery is a word, because you used it and we get it. English is a good language like that.

There is certainly such a thing as Swiss threading!

Lovely looking frame

Thanks for the kind words! Afaik Swiss threading is compatible with French, only that the fixed cup is left threaded (French is right threaded and sometimes they tend to unscrew). Luckily I already have a BB and it's in a good condition, just needs a little grease.

MCamb: thank you!

Crankset arrived today! Horrible picture below.

Campagnolo Xenon (175 mm long, meh) cranks with a 53T chainring (gonna need some spacers for the bolts).
I've also ordered a cheapo but strong wheelset (shit's heavy as hell but it's damn indestructible), it's probably going arrive on friday or monday, and then the building process begins. The cog will be a 18T one, so 53-18, 36 skid patches.
I need a brake lever for the front brake as this handlebar has a 23.8 mm diameter and the lever I have lying around is for 22.2. Or I'll ride brakeless...

Wheelset arrived. This one's brand new, all the other components were used. I've found a set of unknown anti-puncture 700x25c tyres in the basement, they're in a really good condition, so I'll use those.

A local ad came up, where a guy sells a set of Maillard CXC pedals with toe clips and straps for cheap (~7.5 GBP), and I'll collect them on Sunday. Pic he sent me is below:

The handlebar issue. The thing with drop bars is that I've never really liked them for urban use without road brake levers. I just don't find them comfortable. I mean they look rad as hell but still, comfort will be the defining factor here, so:

My old steel riser. This stuff was on my grandma's bike since the 70's, but she didn't use it too much so it was in a pretty good condition when I got it. I love it. I'll re-tape it tho (btw I don't like using grips).

I've taken the frame for the local bike service to re-grease the BB and the headset as I don't have tools for those. It'll be ready by friday and I'll build it up asap.

Getting there... Pedals tomorrow, front brake and lever next week.

pics not working anymore, damn

Getting there.
TBA: front rack and fenders. Rack arrives tomorrow, fenders will take a while from China. Will take proper pics with a proper camera after the rack is installed (and I'll remove the silicone lights during the shoot. :P )

More pics HERE.

Edit: fixed the link

Ordered some cheapo parts from the far east. Hopefully they'll arrive in the next 3 weeks.
Also, installed the rack but removed it, because this.

Chinese brake arrived, but it's so bloody ridiculously bad that I couldn't install it. Weak spring, whole thing moves around, nah.
Good old Weinmann 405 stays until I find something nice.
I actually did put the racks back on, because the weather is getting warm and the sweatstain on my back is getting bigger and bigger day by day. Also installed bullhornz.

Somewhat proper pics.

Glad You could install the rack.
Lookin' good!

Cheers mate!

The image hosting site I'm using is crap, meh. Gonna embed the pedalroom images.

Changed the cockpit, removed racks again. Meh. I don't yet know if I like it or not.

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Sold

For Your knees try some joint support supplements. Pretty much destroyed my fingers due to climbing, but these things helped. And always warm up before, and strech a bit after riding. Might sound like a time consuming hassle, but worth it.

Yup, I was already gonna buy some supplements. You're right with the warming up, I should do it, but when it comes to small rides I completely forget it. I always warm up before longer distances though.

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