Alex Singer Cycles and culture
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10-31-22, 09:00 AM
#203
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Happy Autumn indeed, but bittersweet for me. I just accepted a reappointment to my old job at the Dept. of State, so I'm leaving Paris. It was an incredible experience to meet the folks at Singer and especially Olivier. Sadly I didn't ride with them nearly as much as I wanted to, and it will be awhile before I manage to get back here. I'll just have to focus on the fantastic experience chronicled in this post, and hope I bring the Singer back to ride in France soon.
I rode over to the shop (slowly, I just got over a nasty bout with COVID) last week and dropped it off to have Olivier box it up, as I don't trust the home movers to do right by this incredible bike.
My Singer with friends
A last look at the shop
So closes my five year journey in France. On to new adventures and challenges, and goodbye to friends. You know you loved a place when it hurts this much to leave.
I rode over to the shop (slowly, I just got over a nasty bout with COVID) last week and dropped it off to have Olivier box it up, as I don't trust the home movers to do right by this incredible bike.
My Singer with friends
A last look at the shop
So closes my five year journey in France. On to new adventures and challenges, and goodbye to friends. You know you loved a place when it hurts this much to leave.
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10-31-22, 08:17 PM
#204
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So, you’ll be back in DC?
If so, adventure awaits!
If so, adventure awaits!
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11-03-22, 05:15 AM
#205
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Great essay and pix!
It’s very hard to find this level report with pix in bike mags in America, England, and Japan.
The difference between mag reports and this thread is, things between lines.
A faint scent of love of Alex Singer, the shop, bikes, people, and riding bikes with people, is floating between lines.
I’m not a classic French style touring bike fan, but enjoyed this thread so much.
Hmmm, as an old Japanese cyclist, I didn’t expect to find an Alex Singer at a U.S. bike forum at all!
0 %, lol.
The thread reminds me of younger days…
I started cycling in 1975.
In those days, 60% of Japanese cyclists were touring cyclists.
40% liked to ride fast with road bike, including me.
Japan’s bike makers, big like Bridgestone or Miyata, and small made-to-measure specialist shops like Toei or Pegasus, copied French style touring bike, RANDONAH, ranndonuer.
Their dream bikes are real French ranndonuer, Rene Herse, Alex Singer, and Jo Routense.
And other French style bikes, course route, sportif, promenade, were popular, too.
Even Zunow was making ranndonuer, too.
3 Rensho?
I haven’t seen or heard of it.
The most popular was Rene Herse.
A bike shop, where I had been working as a part-timer 1979 to 1980, showed owner’s light blue Rene Herse.
It was full of original parts, but chromed head lugs were impressive.
The color and texture of lugs were very different from Japan’s bikes.
Many bike shops had French parts corner.
1982 or so, sports div of Seibu Department Store started the exclusive agent of Alex Singer.
Accepted orders but I don’t how many bikes were built.
Thank you for the great thread, poprad!
It’s very hard to find this level report with pix in bike mags in America, England, and Japan.
The difference between mag reports and this thread is, things between lines.
A faint scent of love of Alex Singer, the shop, bikes, people, and riding bikes with people, is floating between lines.
I’m not a classic French style touring bike fan, but enjoyed this thread so much.
Hmmm, as an old Japanese cyclist, I didn’t expect to find an Alex Singer at a U.S. bike forum at all!
0 %, lol.
The thread reminds me of younger days…
I started cycling in 1975.
In those days, 60% of Japanese cyclists were touring cyclists.
40% liked to ride fast with road bike, including me.
Japan’s bike makers, big like Bridgestone or Miyata, and small made-to-measure specialist shops like Toei or Pegasus, copied French style touring bike, RANDONAH, ranndonuer.
Their dream bikes are real French ranndonuer, Rene Herse, Alex Singer, and Jo Routense.
And other French style bikes, course route, sportif, promenade, were popular, too.
Even Zunow was making ranndonuer, too.
3 Rensho?
I haven’t seen or heard of it.
The most popular was Rene Herse.
A bike shop, where I had been working as a part-timer 1979 to 1980, showed owner’s light blue Rene Herse.
It was full of original parts, but chromed head lugs were impressive.
The color and texture of lugs were very different from Japan’s bikes.
Many bike shops had French parts corner.
1982 or so, sports div of Seibu Department Store started the exclusive agent of Alex Singer.
Accepted orders but I don’t how many bikes were built.
Thank you for the great thread, poprad!
Last edited by darkmoon; 11-03-22 at 05:21 AM.
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11-03-22, 08:32 AM
#206
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@darkmoon thank you for the bit of Japanese bicycle history. I find the idea of a Zunow rendonneur very amusing! Please post a photo if you every find one.
Brent
Brent
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11-03-22, 10:32 AM
#207
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@darkmoon thank you for the bit of Japanese bicycle history. I find the idea of a Zunow rendonneur very amusing! Please post a photo if you every find one.
Brent
Brent
wow!
I've found one in the thread "Show off that Randonneur; and let's discuss the bike, the gear, the sport"
pic here
↓
https://www.bikeforums.net/15963896-post317.html
I've seen Zunow's randonneur at it's bike mag ad many times.
But real, 3D, lol, one, I've seen it once or twice for 47 years in Japan!
For many Japanese cyclists, Zunow means road bikes, fancy road bikes inspired by Italian job.
Another small bike history.
Zunow invented back brake casing guides, short tubes, brazed on the top tube, instead of cable clips.
It built frames with them for Japanese cyclists, who raced Olympic games Men's road race, Montreal, 1976.
This simple work started in Japan, through Montreal, to Italy and all over the world.
Last edited by darkmoon; 11-03-22 at 10:43 AM.
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11-03-22, 12:56 PM
#208
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Happy Autumn indeed, but bittersweet for me. I just accepted a reappointment to my old job at the Dept. of State, so I'm leaving Paris. It was an incredible experience to meet the folks at Singer and especially Olivier. Sadly I didn't ride with them nearly as much as I wanted to, and it will be awhile before I manage to get back here. I'll just have to focus on the fantastic experience chronicled in this post, and hope I bring the Singer back to ride in France soon.
I rode over to the shop (slowly, I just got over a nasty bout with COVID) last week and dropped it off to have Olivier box it up, as I don't trust the home movers to do right by this incredible bike.
My Singer with friends
A last look at the shop
So closes my five year journey in France. On to new adventures and challenges, and goodbye to friends. You know you loved a place when it hurts this much to leave.
I rode over to the shop (slowly, I just got over a nasty bout with COVID) last week and dropped it off to have Olivier box it up, as I don't trust the home movers to do right by this incredible bike.
My Singer with friends
A last look at the shop
So closes my five year journey in France. On to new adventures and challenges, and goodbye to friends. You know you loved a place when it hurts this much to leave.
Big move, a friend moved there for three years.
she was amazed at the amount of stuff she amassed even renting a furnished apartment.
11-04-22, 05:31 AM
#209
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We didn't amass as much as I thought we would. Lots of new books, some nice small things, but the Singer is my souvenir in the truest sense. I'll never ride it without remembering France.
I'm going to have some fun and not reveal my next (and probably last) assignment. It's an exotic location, is known in the cycling world, and there's mountains. That's all I'm going to give for now.
I'm going to have some fun and not reveal my next (and probably last) assignment. It's an exotic location, is known in the cycling world, and there's mountains. That's all I'm going to give for now.
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11-04-22, 02:29 PM
#210
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We didn't amass as much as I thought we would. Lots of new books, some nice small things, but the Singer is my souvenir in the truest sense. I'll never ride it without remembering France.
I'm going to have some fun and not reveal my next (and probably last) assignment. It's an exotic location, is known in the cycling world, and there's mountains. That's all I'm going to give for now.
I'm going to have some fun and not reveal my next (and probably last) assignment. It's an exotic location, is known in the cycling world, and there's mountains. That's all I'm going to give for now.
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11-05-22, 02:27 PM
#211
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Thanks for sharing, a lovely story, indeed!
11-09-22, 08:20 AM
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I don't think it's been posted yet, but the official Alex Singer website has been updated with the gallery page for Mark's bicycle. Notably, it also contains a link to this thread!
Une bicyclette de type Paris Brest et plus, cadre sur mesure pour roues de 700 C en tubes REYNOLDS 725, entièrement façonnée à la main (cycles-alex-singer.fr)
Une bicyclette de type Paris Brest et plus, cadre sur mesure pour roues de 700 C en tubes REYNOLDS 725, entièrement façonnée à la main (cycles-alex-singer.fr)
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11-10-22, 02:45 PM
#213
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Huh. Well whatdya know about that?
11-10-22, 04:27 PM
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The Lone Ranger. How cool is that? 
11-22-22, 11:14 AM
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That's my bike (the blue bike - first picture on this long thread)! I ride it everyday to work and back, and on weekend excursions when time allows. It is an amazing machine. Very reliable and solid feeling, yet just the right amount of flex on the road for fast riding.
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11-22-22, 06:21 PM
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11-22-22, 11:29 PM
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As if I were in a bike shop, an old bike shop liked French style touring bikes, of 1980 in Tokyo!
And Huret Jubilee, TA 3-arm crank set, Mafac center-pull brazed on.
Jubilee, the high polished one, was very popular among French style touring bike fans.
The round and hemispheric head light wasn't made in Japan and imported those days.
Young French touring bike fans wanted but couldn't get one.
It was a grail for them.
Me?
I preferred Rossin, De Rosa, Colnago, Bianchi, hahaha
But good pix.
Thanks, Robvolz
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11-23-22, 01:45 AM
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Merziac asked,
“Story, tales, Bueller, Bueller?
”
Jim Merz and his lovely wife Heidi Hopkins’ ex-racer, invited us down to their house in Big Sur. Stunning Blufftop location with views of the hills and ocean.
68° both days. A perfect break from the cold Pacific Northwest.
after a spirited ride, we gathered around for some champagne, sabered.
He asked if I wanted a tour of the bikes. (Yes, duh).
Most of them bore his name on them, either used by famous racers in famous races, or bikes he built for himself.
The living room featured Jim’s personal bike, with hubs I thought were the Cinelli‘s made in 1965. Jim said “good eye, but actually I made those.”
He took the old Cinelli design and somehow made them better. And he’s making them in his workshop. Which has a commercial CNC machine and a lathe.
there was not a barn-full of bikes, just maybe 8.
I had to chuckle, not only is there a bike in the living room, but in the master bedroom.
validation I say
the guest cabin is where the Alex Singer lives. Jim said, “I couldn’t pass it up, it has never been ridden. Even the bar tape is original!!”
it was beyond pretty, the lug work speaks for itself. The custom bags were made for him by an Austin TX company.
I didn’t sully it by even straddling it. Even though I could have. And though I’m more of a DeRosa, Colnago, MASI kind of guy, I truly appreciated the beauty and craftsmanship of the Alex Singer.
it was a good couple of days.
I don’t feel bad about having a bike in my living room now.
Greta is doing good. His shop is incredible.
The hub
Personal CNC, hells yeah.
I would not be able to sleep at night, waking up to create from a dream.
“Story, tales, Bueller, Bueller?
”Jim Merz and his lovely wife Heidi Hopkins’ ex-racer, invited us down to their house in Big Sur. Stunning Blufftop location with views of the hills and ocean.
68° both days. A perfect break from the cold Pacific Northwest.
after a spirited ride, we gathered around for some champagne, sabered.
He asked if I wanted a tour of the bikes. (Yes, duh).
Most of them bore his name on them, either used by famous racers in famous races, or bikes he built for himself.
The living room featured Jim’s personal bike, with hubs I thought were the Cinelli‘s made in 1965. Jim said “good eye, but actually I made those.”
He took the old Cinelli design and somehow made them better. And he’s making them in his workshop. Which has a commercial CNC machine and a lathe.
there was not a barn-full of bikes, just maybe 8.
I had to chuckle, not only is there a bike in the living room, but in the master bedroom.
validation I say
the guest cabin is where the Alex Singer lives. Jim said, “I couldn’t pass it up, it has never been ridden. Even the bar tape is original!!”
it was beyond pretty, the lug work speaks for itself. The custom bags were made for him by an Austin TX company.
I didn’t sully it by even straddling it. Even though I could have. And though I’m more of a DeRosa, Colnago, MASI kind of guy, I truly appreciated the beauty and craftsmanship of the Alex Singer.
it was a good couple of days.
I don’t feel bad about having a bike in my living room now.
Greta is doing good. His shop is incredible.
The hub
Personal CNC, hells yeah.
I would not be able to sleep at night, waking up to create from a dream.
__________________
"Leave the gun. Take the Colnagos."
"Leave the gun. Take the Colnagos."
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11-23-22, 02:15 AM
#220
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Wow, inner sanctum, the man, myth, legend, what a trip.
11-23-22, 06:54 AM
#221
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what a cool/great experience!
Thanks for sharing the pics and the story!
Steve in Peoria
Thanks for sharing the pics and the story!
Steve in Peoria
11-23-22, 01:20 PM
#223
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06-13-23, 08:23 AM
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I recently had the opportunity to pay a visit to the Cycles Alex Singer shop during a family vacation to Paris. If you appreciate finely crafted bikes and cycling culture, a visit is something that should never be missed if you are anywhere near Paris. What cannot come across in photos is the great “feel” that the shop has….the ambience. Of course all of this headed up by Olivier Csuka who is simultaneously a master craftsman, athlete, bike racing fan, bike historian, bike culture afficianado….one of us. You could visit the shop 1000 times, but the next visit is still as fresh as the first.
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06-13-23, 09:24 AM
#225
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what is amazing is how "old school" and uncomplicated this workshop is. A Singer is all hand work, a true labor of love.
No CNC milling machines, just a drill press, maybe a simple lathe, and files.
anyway
/markp
No CNC milling machines, just a drill press, maybe a simple lathe, and files.
anyway
/markp
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