French 3-speeds, anyone?
10-26-18, 02:54 PM
#1
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French 3-speeds, anyone?
We have a long-running saga about English 3-speeds. But how about the French counterparts? Here’s my first - newly arrived in today’s post:
I am a sucker for mixtes, but didn’t have a “swoopy” Berceau one. I saw this one on eBay and succumbed. It’s a Captivante - from the catalog listings on eBay it appears to have been a general market volume producer in the 50s and 60s. It’s newly unboxed and still “dans son jus”. This project will keep me busy for awhile ...
I am a sucker for mixtes, but didn’t have a “swoopy” Berceau one. I saw this one on eBay and succumbed. It’s a Captivante - from the catalog listings on eBay it appears to have been a general market volume producer in the 50s and 60s. It’s newly unboxed and still “dans son jus”. This project will keep me busy for awhile ...
10-26-18, 02:59 PM
#2
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Thread Starter
So the seatpost and stem came out with no problem. But the seatpost is only about 5 1/2 inches long, so I’ll be posting an ISO for a longer one (25.48mm). Lots of integrated stuff, such as wiring, and other bells and whistles. 
Last edited by Honusms; 10-26-18 at 03:25 PM.
10-26-18, 03:19 PM
#3
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Man what a *****in looking ride!
10-26-18, 03:20 PM
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10-26-18, 03:24 PM
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Close ups of the rear derailleur please, have not seen a three speed like that ever!
10-26-18, 03:39 PM
#8
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Ooo-la-la. That is nice. C'est bien. Wow that is like the complete package. I love just about everything about it, except the string for a straddle cable. Oh, they were just using that to keep the brakes from flopping. So, that is, I like everything about it then.
10-26-18, 03:44 PM
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-----
Thanks so much for sharing this beauteous berceau.
There abide threads on this marque over at Tonton.
BTW -
You clearly need more coffee machines. A FAEMA Faemina, an Olympia Cremina, a Conti Prestina and an Elektra Deliziosa are simply not eno'!
How many grinders, roasters?
-----
Thanks so much for sharing this beauteous berceau.
There abide threads on this marque over at Tonton.
BTW -
You clearly need more coffee machines. A FAEMA Faemina, an Olympia Cremina, a Conti Prestina and an Elektra Deliziosa are simply not eno'!
How many grinders, roasters?
-----
10-26-18, 04:16 PM
#10
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Thank you for sharing -- very nice! I have always liked those old Simplex downtube levers -- had one on my 3x4 hybrid transmission, even after I replaced the Cyclo bandspring derailleur with a Campag. GS.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
10-26-18, 04:46 PM
#11
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“You clearly need more coffee machines. A FAEMA Faemina, an Olympia Cremina, a Conti Prestina and an Elektra Deliziosa are simply not eno'! 
“
The espresso machines are like the bicycles - n+1. There actually are 2 Feminas and 2 Creminas as well as a Pasquini Livia. The ones not currently in use live in a closet that my husband does not frequent. Grinder in use is a Monolith flat. We won’t go into the others ..... I used to roast weekly in a little Behmore, but the exhaust motor’s kaput and there are local roasters who meet my standards
.
“The espresso machines are like the bicycles - n+1. There actually are 2 Feminas and 2 Creminas as well as a Pasquini Livia. The ones not currently in use live in a closet that my husband does not frequent. Grinder in use is a Monolith flat. We won’t go into the others ..... I used to roast weekly in a little Behmore, but the exhaust motor’s kaput and there are local roasters who meet my standards
.
10-26-18, 05:31 PM
#12
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-----
Thanks so much for sharing this beauteous berceau.
There abide threads on this marque over at Tonton.
BTW -
You clearly need more coffee machines. A FAEMA Faemina, an Olympia Cremina, a Conti Prestina and an Elektra Deliziosa are simply not eno'!
How many grinders, roasters?
-----
Thanks so much for sharing this beauteous berceau.
There abide threads on this marque over at Tonton.
BTW -
You clearly need more coffee machines. A FAEMA Faemina, an Olympia Cremina, a Conti Prestina and an Elektra Deliziosa are simply not eno'!
How many grinders, roasters?
-----
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
10-26-18, 05:31 PM
#13
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Very cool bike........course in geekiness am wondering.....hmmmm convert the headlight to led
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
10-26-18, 05:34 PM
#14
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A few years ago, I picked up a late 60's Motobecane mixte. If the stickers on the chainguard and the rear fender are any indication, it came from the Chretien (French for Christian) bike shop in Angers, France. Interesting that it made its way to the US Midwest!
Huret 3-speed drivetrain, 650b wheels. Came to me with whitewall tires fused to the rims - apparently the bike had been left in the back of a pickup truck all summer. Took awhile to separate that mess and put on a pair of new tires. Love the facing wings in the crank.
Huret 3-speed drivetrain, 650b wheels. Came to me with whitewall tires fused to the rims - apparently the bike had been left in the back of a pickup truck all summer. Took awhile to separate that mess and put on a pair of new tires. Love the facing wings in the crank.
10-26-18, 05:39 PM
#15
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That crank’s amazing!!! What width tires did you use?
10-26-18, 06:48 PM
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Bikes are okay, I guess.
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My little Flandria 500A was a derailleur 3-speed but it was not French, although the derailleur was.
And my little Helium 650B (by Peugeot) was also a derailleur 3- or 4-speed and it was French.
And my little Helium 650B (by Peugeot) was also a derailleur 3- or 4-speed and it was French.
10-27-18, 12:20 AM
#18
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Though I am not a mixte or step through fan, I would definitely build up the OP's bike. Great looking and totally unusual. Well done, on the find, and have fun...
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10-27-18, 12:30 AM
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What great bikes!!
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Keeping Seattle’s bike shops in business since 1978
Keeping Seattle’s bike shops in business since 1978
10-27-18, 09:48 AM
#20
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Those wings are the wings on back of Hermes' helmet. A year or two after yours Hermes was obscured/deleted and it was wings only. Have that ring on the DL-1.
10-27-18, 03:26 PM
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A few years ago, I picked up a late 60's Motobecane mixte. If the stickers on the chainguard and the rear fender are any indication, it came from the Chretien (French for Christian) bike shop in Angers, France. Interesting that it made its way to the US Midwest!
Huret 3-speed drivetrain, 650b wheels. Came to me with whitewall tires fused to the rims - apparently the bike had been left in the back of a pickup truck all summer. Took awhile to separate that mess and put on a pair of new tires. Love the facing wings in the crank.
Huret 3-speed drivetrain, 650b wheels. Came to me with whitewall tires fused to the rims - apparently the bike had been left in the back of a pickup truck all summer. Took awhile to separate that mess and put on a pair of new tires. Love the facing wings in the crank.
Thanks very much for sharing this noteworthy immigrant from Pantin.
In case you did not know already shell is CH.
The cycle's Haubtmann chainset is of an interesting design. The chainwheel threads onto the drive side crank arm and is secured by a threaded lockring similar to a bottom bracket lockring.
Here is a vintage advert from Haubtmann showing a thread-on chainwheel on the left. Note how the artist has attempted to indicate the threads on the inner edge of the crank arm opening.
https://www.bikeforums.net/attachmen...1&d=1513378090
Here is an image of another chainset of this type fitted to a vintage french lugless machine -
https://www.bikeforums.net/attachmen...1&d=1513378090
Here is the back side of an RFG brand set of this type showing the lockring arrangement -
-----
10-27-18, 03:34 PM
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“You clearly need more coffee machines. A FAEMA Faemina, an Olympia Cremina, a Conti Prestina and an Elektra Deliziosa are simply not eno'! “
The espresso machines are like the bicycles - n+1. There actually are 2 Feminas and 2 Creminas as well as a Pasquini Livia. The ones not currently in use live in a closet that my husband does not frequent. Grinder in use is a Monolith flat. We won’t go into the others ..... I used to roast weekly in a little Behmore, but the exhaust motor’s kaput and there are local roasters who meet my standards.
“The espresso machines are like the bicycles - n+1. There actually are 2 Feminas and 2 Creminas as well as a Pasquini Livia. The ones not currently in use live in a closet that my husband does not frequent. Grinder in use is a Monolith flat. We won’t go into the others ..... I used to roast weekly in a little Behmore, but the exhaust motor’s kaput and there are local roasters who meet my standards
.Thanks very much for the response. Had to set me Behmor aside after a roast caught fyre.
Been torrefacting with other equipment since...-----
10-27-18, 06:01 PM
#23
Full Member
Not a 3-speed but rather a 4, but it is in the same mould. I cleaned up this "non-Alex-Singer" Singer from France a couple years back. It is fun to ride on the flats around here, makes me feel like a kid again to ride it. The frame is surprisingly nice and light, it's all the steel parts which weigh it down. The photo below is the "before" ebay shot. I can't believe I've not taken an "after" shot. Will need to find a suitably French backdrop to take one, one of these days, but I only cleaned, lubed and fixed where needed so it doesn't appear too different now.
I've chronicled the tear down and cleanup here:
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...and-sport.html
I've chronicled the tear down and cleanup here:
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...and-sport.html
10-27-18, 06:49 PM
#24
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Even though I mostly have old Treks, I do LOVE the old French bikes! Especially these with the gorgeous chain guards, chain rings, fenders and lights. VERY COOL thread! Thanks ! :-)
10-28-18, 12:16 AM
#25
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Coffee and bikes.
Add beer and you’ve got the holy trinity.
Add beer and you’ve got the holy trinity.