One of the reasons I like older French bikes is that it's easy to modify the gearing using French equipment. You can run a Stronglight 49d crank, a Nervar 631, a stronglight 99, or a TA crank as a compact crank or as a triple. Even the short cage simplex rear derailleurs typically have a pretty decent chain wrap and can handle a 28 tooth if not a bit larger.
You could run French equipment on an older British bike. I plan on doing that in rebuilding a 1950s Claud Butler Jubilee.
Last edited by bikemig; 02-15-23 at 06:54 PM.