BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
One of the country’s best-known bike shops and bike brand is releasing a book next week, offering insight into its life and evolution.
Condor’s ‘Past Present Future’ book goes behind the scenes with interviews, essays and photo stories with close friends, riders and famous names that have ridden the bikes over Condor’s sixty-five year history.
Perhaps as an indication of the fame of Condor’s brand, the book will be stocked in outlets outside the cycle industry, including The Design Museum, Foyles Bookshop, Magma, GMBH Bookshops and other independents.
Condor partnered with the makers of the Ride Journal – Andrew and Philip Diprose – for the project, producing a 148-page book, which retails at £14.99 and will also be available from Look Mum No Hands, among others. It includes how Condor first started making single speeds for couriers in the early nineties, the inception of the Rapha Condor Sharp team and why steel has remained in the range over the years.
“The book is not a linear story; it’s not a history book with a timeline of events. We wanted to devote a book to one of the world’s purest, most classic sporting endeavours, celebrating cycling, bikes and their design and shape,” explained managing editor Claire Beaumont.
“Our customers always have great stories to tell and we wanted to use the book to share and inspire others to ride. Containing interviews and essays with founder, Monty Young, and son, Grant Young, the book explores the brand and how it has come to attract names like Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton and Phil Liggett.”
The Ride Journals Andrew and Philip Diprose added: “As London riders, we always knew Condor. We have both spent way too much time hanging around the store, so we were delighted to have the opportunity to work on a project with such an iconic British cycling brand.
"It was a pleasure to record the fascinating, heart warming and emotional tales surrounding the shop. Whether it was a national champion, a hardcore commuter or the grease-stained workshop staff, everyone’s story was linked by their passion for bikes.”
There’s some images from the glossy publication below:
