I bought this Giant Escape on Ebay last year for £30..It was in a very sorry state..But with a quick respray in places,new chain,saddle,cables,rear derailleur ,tyres it came out really well as the first photo shows..Last week I added drop bars bought for £1,STI shifters for £17,a 46/34 front chainwheel which I had already , mini V brakes £18 , a shorter bar stem which a friend gave me and black handlebar tape..£10 and a whole new set of inner and outer cables..£10..
Really pleased with it ..will be good as a gravel bike or just for the country roads around here which are full of potholes..

That's nice work and it looks like you've been able to do it at low cost, also. Well done!

A minor suggestion: your rear brake cable housing looks too long (between the frame's cable stop and the brake arm). It looks like it loops pretty far down and then up vertically into a noodle that points straight down. This cable housing length is usually such that the noodle can point forwards and there's just enough cable for movement during braking action...but it stays mostly parallel to the top tube.

Again, great work! You definitely scored well on purchasing the bike and the parts.

really sweet!

how is riding the drops? would think you'd want to raise the bar a bit? no?

https://www.amazon.com/Delta-Cycle-B.../dp/B000FHBED0

Never really ride on the drops so no need to make them higher..I just prefer riding on the hoods to flat bars..Makes a much thinner profile and is a more natural position in my opinion..

never mind the drops, what's the saddle?

My butt hurts!