May 2011

As of today you can use your head to support the Save the Herne Hill Velodrome campaign.

Condor has been a supporter of the project since its inception last year. We worked with campaign designer Carl Ison to create a cycle cap to be sold in store and via mail order, with proceeds going directly to the campaign. Hillary Peachey, Chair of the Herne Hill Velodrome Trust, the charity set up to secure the future of the site, said today "we are absolutely delighted to have the support of such a well respected cycling brand as Condor. We've had thousands of people ask how they can help and support what we're doing, and now they can wear this special edition cap with pride."

The Herne Hill Velodrome is close to our hearts here at Condor. Our shop opened in 1948, the year the track was a venue for the London Olympics, and the velodrome has seen many a Condor sponsored riders find victory, from Bradley Wiggins to 60s Tour de France riders Colin Lewis and Dave Bonner. Herne Hill is a perfect place for Londoners to learn how to ride the track and an ideal place to educate school children about sport."

So what's next?

1. Go to the Save the Herne Hill Velodrome site to learn more and pledge your support.

2. Check out the new cap in store or online on our product pages.

Tags: Gran Corsa

I've certainly been getting the miles in recently for the Gran Corsa. I can't believe it is only 16 days to go before the off. After watching yesterday's stage of the Giro I am having second thoughts as to which tyres to use. I hadn't looked at the full route and seeing the Strada Bianchi being raced over by the pros made me nervous.

One item I am certain to be using though is the limited edition Gran Corsa jersey made by Rapha for the event. Along with that there are the special Gran Corsa inspired bottles, caps and socks designed by our in-house designer, Ben. What I am really excited about, though, is the imminent arrival of the limited edition Acciaio Gran Corsa with special paint finish and engraved lugs.

The Rapha Condor Sharp team Leggero I have been riding this past month has taken in a lot of sea air, considering how many times it has had a view of the English Channel whilst riding over Beachy Head in the last month; 800 miles to be precise. Last Sunday saw an annual ride with some of the local Tunbridge Wells guys called the Velo 110, so called because of the route's 110 mile length taking in a circular route West out of T. Wells before turning South, through Turners Hill and onto Beachy Head and Eastbourne. After a quick cafe stop on the beach it was a steady ride back North with the last 20 miles being a bit of a free-for-all with attacks going in from all angles. With long weekend jaunts and some high speed work on the 40 mile rides home from work during the week it is the first time since I stopped racing over 10 years ago that my legs have felt like they may even consider making a return to the peloton.

I can tell it is getting close now as I've just had a reminder to check in online for the outbound flight to Turin. I had better start gathering some kit together for the big packing session that will have to take place. Next week will include some practice drinking espressos Italian style whilst near Venice checking up on Condor's latest run of production.

For those who wish to sponsor me and help raise as much as possible for The Prostate Cancer Charity, please click here.

The total has already gone over £400 which is amazing, but I am sure I can go much further.

Neil is Condor's Production Director and has set himself the challenge of riding the first 6 stages of the Giro d'Italia consecutively.

Lincoln GP 2011 - Rapha Condor Sharp - Chasing the Team from Condor Cycles on Vimeo.

The second video from filmaker Andy Waterman who is chasing Rapha Condor Sharp as they compete on home soil in Britain's top road races. If you want to see more 'Like' our video using the buttons on the right of the video.

Kristian House drew first blood in an early break and you can see his stats from the race at this link

Kristian is using a Garmin Edge 500

Chasing a race is an exhilirating experience. It's technically racing against your own men, your aim to get to your pre determined mark on the course before they do.
I've never really properly chased a race before. I've watched cyclo cross world cups and moved around the course, I'm sure I'm not the only person to have been to a Classics race in Belgium and visited an early sector and then headed off to find another spot to watch the closing moments.

Last month, I was the fifth member of an intrepid team, tasked with capturing the CiCLE Classic, and make a video following the Rapha Condor Sharp team as they took on the unique course.

There are 10 off road sectors, two difficult climbs and a feed zone we had to get 'in the can'.
First things first, we rode the course the day before the race. You could drive it but we all like riding so, why not....
We rode 60 miles of the course missing some of the boring opening bits and making sure we hit all the climbs and off road sectors.

Knowing the course makes life easier when it comes to race day. You remember the roads and where you are and it helps when you need to bisect the course and beat the peleton to the certain points. Riding helps you work out how fast or slow the peloton will ride the section your filming, you can find the best angles and the really gruesome bits of the road.

The chase

We start race day milling about the start, chatting to riders and getting interviews. Next we're onto the first sector. And into the feed zone where we set up the first shot and wait for about 40 minutes.
Everything is looking good and we're off to the next bit.
Panic starts to set in when you realise the bunch is attacking and going alot faster than you had worked out. Parking has to be carefully calculated don't let yourself get blocked in and your can get to the sector quickly too!
Excitement sets in when you see your team smashing it along the road and you've caught it on film.
Then you all power walk/ run back to the van and direct the driver to the next spot.

Stop, find a place to park, unload, run  down the road with shouts of ' the bunch are 1 minute away'.

The moto convoy comes through, 'phew we made it' and the whizzing of the peleton and we've caught them on camera again.

Right off to the next bit. Recalculation of plans is also quite interesting, more map reading and shaking of you phone thinking that will make it load the page faster. And then you suddenly arrive at the hill. 'Everyone out', here we go again.

Get a job

Everyone needs a job, otherwise it descends into chaos.
Filmographer and a bag/tripod carrying assistant. Photographer number 2 to get the stills.
You need a map reader and a seperate race route reader. The race route reader needs calculate timings to certain sectors and when riders are in a sector (that was my job plus being a hysterical over excited girl).

Equipment
A van carries more junk than a car and can handle the off road
Two cameras
A tripod
Map of the area
Map of the race route
Route timings
Highlight the sectors and time to sectors
iphones or smart phones with signal for twittering, mapping and taking snaps
Squished sandwiches
Melted cookies
Percy pig sweets
Pro riders to win the race
Very helpful team of support crew (thanks Sam and Martin) to film at the feed zone and end

Big thanks to Phips, Sammy, Ben and Andy. It was a day to remember!

That's chasing the race and you can see the result of it here. I'm really excited because we're off to do it all again. Claire

Map reading and twittering at the feed

Phips with his camera

The convey begins

Riding the course

Hitting the dirt