What to do with my Dads Bike - Jo Routens 1973
11-07-21, 02:54 PM
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What to do with my Dads Bike - Jo Routens 1973
I am going through my dads stuff after he passed away and i'm looking for advice on what to do with his Jo Routens 1973 bike. He got it new when he was going to school in france in Grenoble. He rode it to the 1974 Monaco grand prix. I want to see this bike go to someone who will appreciate it as i just don't have the room for it. Looking for advice on what it is worth and where to sell it. Thanks
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11-07-21, 08:09 PM
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The details appear to be brand extension and not the Constructeur.
I think one had to evaluate it as for what it is and not the brand.
I think one had to evaluate it as for what it is and not the brand.
11-08-21, 08:03 AM
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My condolences for your loss. I hope that you have fond memories of your father.
11-08-21, 08:14 AM
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Make room and keep the bike.
The sentimental value will far exceed the dollar amount.
Very sorry for your loss
The sentimental value will far exceed the dollar amount.
Very sorry for your loss
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11-08-21, 08:27 AM
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The sentimental value of keeping my dad's bike (if he had one), would far exceed any monetary value. As far as selling stuff, eBay tends to yield the most, but you have to be willing and able to pack carefully. and ship. And then you have the pesky fees. But I would keep it. Once its gone, its gone...
11-08-21, 08:29 AM
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I too am sorry that for your loss. This is a difficult time and that is compounded by dealing with your parent's things. If the bike fits you, though, you may find it a pleasure to ride this bike from time to time. I know I do when I ride my father's bike.
11-08-21, 08:32 AM
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Sorry for your loss. I can't open your links. After you get 10 posts, you'll be able to post pictures here that we can all see.
11-08-21, 09:53 AM
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11-08-21, 09:57 AM
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https://www.ebykr.com/jo-routens-randonneur-excellence/
Joseph “Jo” Routens was one of the greatest makers of randonneur, cyclotouring and cyclosportif bicycles in all of cycling history. The only other name regularly considered alongside his more aged contemporaries, Rene Herse and Alex Singer, Routens was distinct from these seminal influences in his unwavering commitment to the everyday cyclist.
Joseph “Jo” Routens was one of the greatest makers of randonneur, cyclotouring and cyclosportif bicycles in all of cycling history. The only other name regularly considered alongside his more aged contemporaries, Rene Herse and Alex Singer, Routens was distinct from these seminal influences in his unwavering commitment to the everyday cyclist.
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11-08-21, 05:40 PM
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https://www.ebykr.com/jo-routens-randonneur-excellence/
Joseph “Jo” Routens was one of the greatest makers of randonneur, cyclotouring and cyclosportif bicycles in all of cycling history. The only other name regularly considered alongside his more aged contemporaries, Rene Herse and Alex Singer, Routens was distinct from these seminal influences in his unwavering commitment to the everyday cyclist.
Joseph “Jo” Routens was one of the greatest makers of randonneur, cyclotouring and cyclosportif bicycles in all of cycling history. The only other name regularly considered alongside his more aged contemporaries, Rene Herse and Alex Singer, Routens was distinct from these seminal influences in his unwavering commitment to the everyday cyclist.
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11-09-21, 03:30 PM
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There is a long-standing tradition of subcontractors in the bicycle industry. Just because a bike's decals say "Masi" or "Routens" does not mean that it was made in the Masi or Routens workshop. It may have been ordered from any number of other firms. Some of these subcontractors built bikes for several different companies.
Jo Routens was best known for his extremely high quality frames built with great attention to every detail. Many of them had the "Hellenic" style seat stays. It is very possible that the lesser quality bikes sold at the Routens shop were ordered from some other maker. As you can imagine, unravelling all of this fifty years after the fact can be difficult. Unless you can find someone with intimate knowledge of the Routens shop in the seventies you may never have a clear answer. However, if you can supply us with some detailed photos of the framework we may be able to figure it out for you.
Specifically give us photos of the fork crown, the dropouts, the seat cluster, the bottom bracket, (including any serial number that might be present) the brake bridge, any cutouts in the lugs, and a closer straight-on drive side view of the entire bike. Components don't matter much, as those are often removed and replaced with others during the lifetime of the bike.
Brent
11-09-21, 04:27 PM
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11-09-21, 05:02 PM
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https://www.ebykr.com/jo-routens-randonneur-excellence/
Joseph “Jo” Routens was one of the greatest makers of randonneur, cyclotouring and cyclosportif bicycles in all of cycling history. The only other name regularly considered alongside his more aged contemporaries, Rene Herse and Alex Singer, Routens was distinct from these seminal influences in his unwavering commitment to the everyday cyclist.
Joseph “Jo” Routens was one of the greatest makers of randonneur, cyclotouring and cyclosportif bicycles in all of cycling history. The only other name regularly considered alongside his more aged contemporaries, Rene Herse and Alex Singer, Routens was distinct from these seminal influences in his unwavering commitment to the everyday cyclist.
11-09-21, 05:12 PM
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Find someone who will appreciate it and gift it to them. Tell them the history of it, about your fathers’s love for it and how he’d be pleased if it brought them enjoyment.
11-09-21, 05:43 PM
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Sorry for the loss of your dad. I am sure he would bring this bike with him! Beautiful bike.
It would be amazing if it were your size and you developed a love of riding with it, but odds are even that if you decided to sell, you might get someone to use and cherish, or might get someone to collect and sell.
If selling, you do the best you can but ultimately how it is used is out of your hands.
You could also break it down and pack in a box for later decisions...kick the can down the road!
It would be amazing if it were your size and you developed a love of riding with it, but odds are even that if you decided to sell, you might get someone to use and cherish, or might get someone to collect and sell.
If selling, you do the best you can but ultimately how it is used is out of your hands.
You could also break it down and pack in a box for later decisions...kick the can down the road!
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11-10-21, 03:52 PM
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Sorry for the loss of your dad. I am sure he would bring this bike with him! Beautiful bike.
It would be amazing if it were your size and you developed a love of riding with it, but odds are even that if you decided to sell, you might get someone to use and cherish, or might get someone to collect and sell.
If selling, you do the best you can but ultimately how it is used is out of your hands.
You could also break it down and pack in a box for later decisions...kick the can down the road!
It would be amazing if it were your size and you developed a love of riding with it, but odds are even that if you decided to sell, you might get someone to use and cherish, or might get someone to collect and sell.
If selling, you do the best you can but ultimately how it is used is out of your hands.
You could also break it down and pack in a box for later decisions...kick the can down the road!
11-11-21, 06:28 PM
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From what little I can tell from the photos it appears to be a nice upper-middle quality bike with some quality components.
There is a long-standing tradition of subcontractors in the bicycle industry. Just because a bike's decals say "Masi" or "Routens" does not mean that it was made in the Masi or Routens workshop. It may have been ordered from any number of other firms. Some of these subcontractors built bikes for several different companies.
Jo Routens was best known for his extremely high quality frames built with great attention to every detail. Many of them had the "Hellenic" style seat stays. It is very possible that the lesser quality bikes sold at the Routens shop were ordered from some other maker. As you can imagine, unravelling all of this fifty years after the fact can be difficult. Unless you can find someone with intimate knowledge of the Routens shop in the seventies you may never have a clear answer. However, if you can supply us with some detailed photos of the framework we may be able to figure it out for you.
Specifically give us photos of the fork crown, the dropouts, the seat cluster, the bottom bracket, (including any serial number that might be present) the brake bridge, any cutouts in the lugs, and a closer straight-on drive side view of the entire bike. Components don't matter much, as those are often removed and replaced with others during the lifetime of the bike.
Brent
There is a long-standing tradition of subcontractors in the bicycle industry. Just because a bike's decals say "Masi" or "Routens" does not mean that it was made in the Masi or Routens workshop. It may have been ordered from any number of other firms. Some of these subcontractors built bikes for several different companies.
Jo Routens was best known for his extremely high quality frames built with great attention to every detail. Many of them had the "Hellenic" style seat stays. It is very possible that the lesser quality bikes sold at the Routens shop were ordered from some other maker. As you can imagine, unravelling all of this fifty years after the fact can be difficult. Unless you can find someone with intimate knowledge of the Routens shop in the seventies you may never have a clear answer. However, if you can supply us with some detailed photos of the framework we may be able to figure it out for you.
Specifically give us photos of the fork crown, the dropouts, the seat cluster, the bottom bracket, (including any serial number that might be present) the brake bridge, any cutouts in the lugs, and a closer straight-on drive side view of the entire bike. Components don't matter much, as those are often removed and replaced with others during the lifetime of the bike.
Brent
Here are some close up pictures of the bike.
11-11-21, 10:15 PM
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Can we stick to ID/appraisal please? It seems weird to try to impart our own sentimentality into someone else. We don't know whats important for this person and their dad. Maybe it just hung in the garage all these years. Maybe it was just around but not a cherished item. Whatever the reason it none of us are privy to it or the circumstances surrounding it, I don't think we should be poking at this persons motivation here.
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11-11-21, 10:40 PM
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Perhaps we could ask @cb400bill for another image assist. I can't figure out how to post those photos here.
The photo of the bottom bracket is most interesting. There does not appear to be a traditional bottom bracket shell. Rather it appears welded or fillet brazed. The resolution of the photo is not great but it appears that if there are fillets they are very small. This is something that appears in other Routens bikes but not in bikes coming from larger workshops as far as I know.
I went searching on line for photos of other Routens bikes and found a couple with similar v-shaped crimp at the top of the seat stays.
I find this bike fascinating. The fork crown is quite chunky by Routens standards and the dropouts appear to be stamped instead of forged, a detail that, after the fifties, is usually indicative of middle or lower line models. The lugwork is nice, but not spectacular. At this point I think this bike was probably built at the Routens workshop rather than by a subcontractor, but I have no real expertise on Routens bikes other than to have admired the couple I have seen in person and the many I have seen in photos.
Perhaps @verktyg, @bertinjim, @juvela, @Catnap or the inimitable @MauriceMoss might be able to help us.
Brent
The photo of the bottom bracket is most interesting. There does not appear to be a traditional bottom bracket shell. Rather it appears welded or fillet brazed. The resolution of the photo is not great but it appears that if there are fillets they are very small. This is something that appears in other Routens bikes but not in bikes coming from larger workshops as far as I know.
I went searching on line for photos of other Routens bikes and found a couple with similar v-shaped crimp at the top of the seat stays.
I find this bike fascinating. The fork crown is quite chunky by Routens standards and the dropouts appear to be stamped instead of forged, a detail that, after the fifties, is usually indicative of middle or lower line models. The lugwork is nice, but not spectacular. At this point I think this bike was probably built at the Routens workshop rather than by a subcontractor, but I have no real expertise on Routens bikes other than to have admired the couple I have seen in person and the many I have seen in photos.
Perhaps @verktyg, @bertinjim, @juvela, @Catnap or the inimitable @MauriceMoss might be able to help us.
Brent
11-12-21, 05:38 AM
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11-12-21, 08:14 AM
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Tstolz12-
It is possible your bike is a mid-range sub-contracted bike for Routens. Like many other smaller shops and builders, mid-range bikes would be sourced from larger firms like Cycles France-Loire or Manufrance. I believe yours is a Manufrance based on the lug work, stay caps and overall design. The frameset is likely Vitus Durifort or 172 as these were popular tubesets to use at that price point. Manufrance especially built this level frameset without forged rear dropouts just as yours has. There is a similar bike here as a comparison: Manufrance Hirondelle Restoration By Jimi - The Velo Collective
Also, the suggestion to use TonTon Velo is a good one and you can find them here: https://forum.tontonvelo.com/viewforum.php?f=2
It is possible your bike is a mid-range sub-contracted bike for Routens. Like many other smaller shops and builders, mid-range bikes would be sourced from larger firms like Cycles France-Loire or Manufrance. I believe yours is a Manufrance based on the lug work, stay caps and overall design. The frameset is likely Vitus Durifort or 172 as these were popular tubesets to use at that price point. Manufrance especially built this level frameset without forged rear dropouts just as yours has. There is a similar bike here as a comparison: Manufrance Hirondelle Restoration By Jimi - The Velo Collective
Also, the suggestion to use TonTon Velo is a good one and you can find them here: https://forum.tontonvelo.com/viewforum.php?f=2
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11-12-21, 10:56 AM
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Perhaps we could ask @cb400bill for another image assist. I can't figure out how to post those photos here.
The photo of the bottom bracket is most interesting. There does not appear to be a traditional bottom bracket shell. Rather it appears welded or fillet brazed. The resolution of the photo is not great but it appears that if there are fillets they are very small. This is something that appears in other Routens bikes but not in bikes coming from larger workshops as far as I know. =
The photo of the bottom bracket is most interesting. There does not appear to be a traditional bottom bracket shell. Rather it appears welded or fillet brazed. The resolution of the photo is not great but it appears that if there are fillets they are very small. This is something that appears in other Routens bikes but not in bikes coming from larger workshops as far as I know. =
joinery of tubes to shell appears it may be accomplished with the "inexternal" technique.
-----
Last edited by cb400bill; 11-12-21 at 11:13 AM.
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