Steve Whitlatch 

They are beautiful and a real pleasure to ride. I still have this one. The patina on this frame is even beautiful.

ollo_ollo

Amongst the mid-level models, you may find "one of a kind"

noglider 

[MENTION=8403]ollo_ollo[/MENTION], I like that. What's the story?

ollo_ollo

Somehow you missed this one Tom. It was pearl white when new, but got a Kaleido/Confetti paint from a helpful, artist dad. Read all about it here: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...d-peugeot.html Also, there is a link in post #57 of that thread which takes you to the thread where Gugie healed the fork. Don

63rickert

Against all who complain about difficulty of finding parts allow me to point out that French parts had amazingly long production runs. Stronglight 49d cranks made from 1932 to 1982. Effectively still in production via Sun XCD. Mafac Racers made from 1951 until ?early 80s?. Also effectively still in production at a variety of shops. Interchangeability of French parts is total, there were standards and all in industry followed them. And pretty much all parts were used by everyone from Herse and Singer down to humble Gitanes and Manufrance. All easy to work on once you adjust.

bikemig 

+ 1 on all of this. Plus many of the parts were very, very good. I remember looking at the rockwell hardness test on stronglight chainrings and being very impressed even when compared to what was considered the gold medal standard, campy. If you want to retrofit and older bike with a compact crank, it's hard to beat some of the TA and stronglight models. I'll likely use a stronglight 99 when retrofitting a 1982 Peugeot PXN 10 I picked up so that I can run 34/46 rings. Try that with a campy crank. You can still find 86 bcd rings from Spa cycles in the UK. Even the "racing" stronglight 93, which is a beautiful looking crank IMO, can go down to 38 teeth. The headsets were good quality as well. I've been very impressed when working on older french bikes how well the headsets tend to hold up (and ditto for BBs as well). The stronglight A9 is a legendary headset for good reason. Many of the rims were truly excellent. There was no better touring rim back in the day than a Superchampion 58. I rode a set on a cross country tour and they're still going strong. Mavic stuff was excellent as well. Heck you can buy french threaded BB cups for cheap on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Action-Bottom-Bracket-2xRIGHT-Retainer/dp/B003ZKOOMC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1544982079&sr=8-3&keywords=french+threaded+bottom+bracket

noglider 

Thanks. I don't remember reading those threads, and now I'm caught up. I love the repair and the paint job. I think I'm inspired.

Rocky Gravol

I have a thing for French bikes with Stonglight 99 cranks.

52-40-28



Custom drillrillium. Don't look to close.

Jon T

If you've ever ridden one, you'd know. My N bike is my '84 PH10 bought new. Still running the Helicomatic hardware on it with no problems. And it still shines like the day it was new. I don't get all the hatred about French bikes. Now their cars??!!?? That's another story.
Jon

Rocky Gravol

If life were to be found on another planet,
and that life developed an industrial society.
and that society invented the bicycle,
those bicycles would be to our bicycles,
like French bicycles are to the rest of the world.

chico81 

Chombi1 

Yes, their cars were a hoot back in the 80's Still remember looking at a brand new Renault Fuego parked in our apartment parking structure in college. The fit on the rear hatch was so bad that I could actually stick my fingers under the right lower corner of the hatch, into the interior.... Renaults sold by AMC back then were known to be pretty bad cars too.
My dad did have better luck with older Renaults like his two 70's Renault 16 TS' and his Renault 17 Gordini Coupe Those were well built and never gave us any problems. He also had good luck with his Peugeot 404 Pinninfarina coupe. I'm relieved though that he did not buy the Citroen SM he was eyeing in the 70's. Although now, very collectible because of its Maserati engine, it was and is, a maintenance nightmare, according to owners of the car.... say Hydro-pneumatic suspension spheres.....

repechage

The initial core of the velo club I joined were French expats. One had a Rene Herse. Various other makes with a few C.N.C.'s
(The Americans of the club mostly rode Italian)
I rode French and then another French bike with Campagnolo.

One member drove a Citroen Traction Avant. I was always amazed how that car could swallow a road bike for transport.
Front wheel drive, unibody construction, though it looked body on frame, four wheel independent suspension. All in a car designed in the 30's.

noglider 

I have only had a tiny bit of experience with Citröen cars. In 2005, we rented a car for about six days, and I had a choice between a German-made Ford or a Citröen C5. I was much more curious about the French car. It was similar to a car I had back at home, a Saab 9000 5-door hatchback. Both were roomy, and the engine wasn't impressively powerful, but the car had great manners once I got it up to high speed. Like Click and Clack warned, the manual transmission made me feel like I was rowing the gears. They like long throws there, for whatever reason.

tatelabianca666

Killer paint job, Ollo. Looks like an old Ludwig maple 5-piece drum kit a teacher of mine once had.

Wileyone 

Less talking more French Bike pics. I have a B.Carre I need ideas for.

big chainring 

ridelikeaturtle

Those mudguards are sweet! Did you fabricate those yourself, or are they available off-the-shelf?

LouB 

1970 Gitane Super Corsa

1978 Charrel
These are great bicycles to ride. The SC is fast and responsive. The Charrel you can literally ride all day long.Love my French bikes!

Wileyone 

That's more like it. I particularly like the paint. Is it original?

Slightspeed

Here's an update on the '78 PR10 pictured a couple pages back. I scored a nice Stronglight 99, 52/40 at the Eroica CA swap meet, to replace the Sugino GT 52/34 that I was using. Still has the Exage FD, but a little more Frenchness with the 99. Fun bike.

crank_addict

So many terrific rides here.

Drove a Pug 504D manual trans for a few years and only wish to have it today.

Hoping a 504D wagon including underdash 8 track player complete with Foghat rammed in, shows up on that B.A.T. site. Lol

Greatly enjoy these modded- '72 Motobecane Le Champion gravel rider (700x32) and '83 Peugeot PSV10 (now has FMB Comp CX 700x25 and CLB Pro brakeset).

79pmooney

Headset dimensions, tubing diameters, seatpost diameter.

Edit: Bah! Three year old post!

SurferRosa

What's so special 'bout french bikes?
What's so specific 'bout french bikes?
What's so special?
So special?
Woah!
What's so special...

[Mods, merge with the Ronstadt thread if necessary.]

DQRider 

^^^ ???