Another LeChampion pickup
10-21-21, 02:25 PM
#26
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This is such a neat bike. Are you thinking about a swap? What size bike do you ride?
10-21-21, 07:34 PM
#27
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Thread Starter
Frames that fit me best are 53-54 cm. I’d love to find one of these 1972 LeChampions that was a size smaller than this one
10-21-21, 10:43 PM
#28
Senior Member
OP's bike has a beautiful frame. Somehow I find myself owning two of these. Both my size. Both need work. I feel blessed and cursed all at once.
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10-22-21, 02:07 AM
#29
verktyg
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Old French Reynolds 531 Decals
au contraire...
In the early 70's the 531 characters on many French language Reynolds 531 decals were a pale gray green color. Back then I thought that they were faded but I started seeing those decals on new out of the box bikes.
Peugeot
Lejeune
Motobecane
Don't remember???
Back in the 1970's Reynolds FIERCELY defended their trade mark 531 decals. There were several folks who made these bogus "GUARANTEED NOT BUILT WITH" decals. They were quickly slapped with Cease And Desist orders from Reynolds lawyers.
Jump ahead to the 2000's when a lot of "repop" Reynolds stickers became available in the US. Many of them were bad copies of bad copies. Apparently it was hard to get an accurate green 531 color on the stickers made with inkjet or laser printers back then. In many cases the 531 characters were very dark.
About 1976 I was in contact with Reynolds concerning replacement decals. So many of the new bikes were coming in with damaged Reynolds 531 decals. The letters that I received back from Reynolds were very rude but eventually I got some information from them - straight from the horse's mouth - they used up to 7 sources at the time for their decals. That's one reason there was so many variances is colours and details.
According to my contacts the only way to get a replacement Reynolds decal in the US was from an authorized repsprayer on a frame that was being repainted. Albert Eisentraut was one of few approved resprayers.
The respray stickers looked like this - These are French stickers.
verktyg
In the early 70's the 531 characters on many French language Reynolds 531 decals were a pale gray green color. Back then I thought that they were faded but I started seeing those decals on new out of the box bikes.
Peugeot
Lejeune
Motobecane
Don't remember???
Back in the 1970's Reynolds FIERCELY defended their trade mark 531 decals. There were several folks who made these bogus "GUARANTEED NOT BUILT WITH" decals. They were quickly slapped with Cease And Desist orders from Reynolds lawyers.
Jump ahead to the 2000's when a lot of "repop" Reynolds stickers became available in the US. Many of them were bad copies of bad copies. Apparently it was hard to get an accurate green 531 color on the stickers made with inkjet or laser printers back then. In many cases the 531 characters were very dark.
About 1976 I was in contact with Reynolds concerning replacement decals. So many of the new bikes were coming in with damaged Reynolds 531 decals. The letters that I received back from Reynolds were very rude but eventually I got some information from them - straight from the horse's mouth - they used up to 7 sources at the time for their decals. That's one reason there was so many variances is colours and details.
According to my contacts the only way to get a replacement Reynolds decal in the US was from an authorized repsprayer on a frame that was being repainted. Albert Eisentraut was one of few approved resprayers.
The respray stickers looked like this - These are French stickers.
verktyg
__________________
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Last edited by verktyg; 10-22-21 at 05:13 AM.
10-22-21, 10:09 AM
#30
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Some concern with the color, some with the art. Some, that the original were a decal or transfer of various types as you stated, Stickers are just that, stickers.
Then that LeJeune, they are fibbing of that. All my Lejeunes have seamed head tubes and Nervor steerers. Good chance some of the other tubes or stays are different.
Then that LeJeune, they are fibbing of that. All my Lejeunes have seamed head tubes and Nervor steerers. Good chance some of the other tubes or stays are different.
10-27-21, 06:53 PM
#31
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Ok; we are getting a little closer here. Wheelset changed out to a set of low flange Maillard hubs with aluminum rims. Cinelli stem and Strong seatpost replace the more modern components that came with the bike. Most of these bits were lifted from a Motobecane Grand Record that is becoming a donor. New brake hoods are on their way from Italy to replace the originals which are pretty much done.
I’m measuring the frame again and comparing the Le Champion to the similarly sized Grand Record. The Le Champion seat tube measures 22-1/2” center to top; the Grand Record measures 23” center to top, yet I’m imagining that theses were both considered 23” models?? Was there that much variability in these frame sets back then?
Sorry for the terrible, low light photo
I’m measuring the frame again and comparing the Le Champion to the similarly sized Grand Record. The Le Champion seat tube measures 22-1/2” center to top; the Grand Record measures 23” center to top, yet I’m imagining that theses were both considered 23” models?? Was there that much variability in these frame sets back then?
Sorry for the terrible, low light photo
Last edited by orcas island; 10-27-21 at 06:56 PM.
