Robin came to us first with a beautiful Leach Marathon made just down the road from our Leytonstone workshop about 100 years previous. We helped him to restore it so when, a little time later, his beloved Condor cross/commuter frame gave up the ghost Robin came back to us with a plan to make an updated version of the Leach and the Condor combined for his everyday and touring riding.
There is a long history of frame builders in our bit of East London and I feel connected to that in a way. It was one of the reasons I wanted to stay here and add to the story a bit even if rent is ridiculous and car drivers are mad.
Anyway, my thought was to make a hybrid build, not the Stayer style as such but something in between a Stayer and the bilam lugged builds of Leach and others of the time. I am not much for a flourish so my lugs are pretty simple. I also wanted to use modern stainless tubing as well as make the build stainless throughout.
Robin was after clearance for 32’s and mudguards and a practical build with external routing like his Condor and wearable parts that weren't going to break the bank to replace for his everyday commute - come rain or shine. He also wanted a rack and lighting system for light touring and longer audaxes or multi day rides.
The headtube is machined and bi-lam’ed from stainless as is the (damn) Willits mount for the fork which took an age - like they could do a Willits mount in stainless right. The dropouts were customised to keep with the style and allow for a wireless front dynamo hub and I added a little capture bolt seat clamp for the seat post to stave off my stress and stripping threads but keeping to the build approach. I finished with a custom low rider rack.
J built a super bling pair of wheels being Pacenti Brevet on Royce/Son Delux which are lush. The finishing kit is Nitto - that Jaguar seatpost right - and there is a King headset and GB mudguards and flap. Randolicious and right up Robin street. Hope you like it.
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