Past Present Future is a celebration of cycling, bicycle design and Condor. Condor partnered with the makers of The Ride Journal for the project, which features a mix of portraits, studio and lifestyle photography by a range of contributors.
The book talks of how, in the early nineties, Condor were the first to make sturdy steel single speeds, not for the track but for London's couriers, swapping an aggressive track geometry for a more relaxed position and bullet-proof build.
John Herety discusses British racing and the inception of the Rapha Condor Sharp team, and why the roots of Condor are within British racing. Former Condor rider and Tour de France veteran, Colin Lewis, shares anecdotes about racing abroad, while production director, Neil Manning, writes a poignant essay about the material steel, and why after all the years, and the popularity of carbon, steel has always remained within the range.
Past Present Future goes behind the scenes through interviews, essays and photo stories with close friends, riders and famous names that have ridden the bikes over Condor's sixty-five year history.
"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." - Andrew and Philip Diprose, The Ride Journal.
Amongst the history are the personal experiences of the staff that have shaped the brand. Sandwiched between Monty describing when Mick Jagger asked to go to the track with him, and a workshop photo story, is a a heart-warming tale from bike fitter, Angel Vila, who had his bike stolen and months later met the thief. Greg Needham, head of sales, explains how he found his way to cycling after a running injury ended his athletics career.
There is plenty of history within the files of Condor but it is the changing faces and the growth of cycling that has prompted the compilation of a book. It celebrates cycling and shares stories from cyclists, and also capturing images of jewel-like components that are essential to us all. It talks of the changing technology within cycling, from lugged frames and hand-stitched jerseys, to flocking, to using laser cutting machinery to produce bikes we see today in the Condor store.
