What's so special about French bikes?
#227
Steel is real
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Bikes: 1992Giant Tourer,1992MeridaAlbon,1996Scapin,1998KonaKilaueua,1993Peugeot Prestige,1991RaleighTeamZ(to be upgraded),1998 Jamis Dragon,1992CTWallis(to be built),1998VettaTeam(to be built),1995Coppi(to be built),1993Grandis(to be built)
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My 1993 Peugeot Prestige in Reynolds 708 Classic (pic from some years ago)
#228
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Location: Brunswick, Maine
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My Hirondelle from post # 216. It now has its permanent derailleur, a Huret Eco, Christophe toe clips w/ brown straps, TA bottle cages and Hutchinson tires, 25mm Fusion 5 in the rear and in the front, a 23mm Atom Comp that I had waiting in the wings. I rode the Trek Across Maine on this bike last year, and on day two, I was very glad that I included fenders in my kit. It rained all day. Saw only one other "steel-head", so we struck up a good chat. I'm going to do a solo tour of undetermined distance on it this summer, this time un-supported..
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#230
Volunteer wrench
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Here's my '71 UO8 that I finished a couple of weeks ago. It was by far the most frustrating bike to work on...until I just accepted the fact that French bikes follow their on path. I found another Peugeot donor for the aluminum crank set, wheels, etc. which eliminated the cotter crank, reduced the weight and improved braking. The ride more than makes up for the frustration.
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#231
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#232
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El Chaba - I became aware of Baco from observing a few Lejeune bikes they made, evidently they did contract fabrication and used 753 from time to time.
that said, a few French of bikes that I have, use tubing that is not on the tubing transfer. Aspirational, I will call it.
that said, a few French of bikes that I have, use tubing that is not on the tubing transfer. Aspirational, I will call it.
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#233
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El Chaba - I became aware of Baco from observing a few Lejeune bikes they made, evidently they did contract fabrication and used 753 from time to time.
that said, a few French of bikes that I have, use tubing that is not on the tubing transfer. Aspirational, I will call it.
that said, a few French of bikes that I have, use tubing that is not on the tubing transfer. Aspirational, I will call it.
#234
Palmer
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Gift to President Eisenhower upon visiting Paris:
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#235
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Location: Marin County, Alta California
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Bikes: Since new: 86 Rodriguez Tandem, wife's 87 Gitane Team Pro, 92 Burley Rock-n-Roll, 85 Fisher Comp, 88 Puch Pro, two 92 Bridgestone X0-1s; later: 66/67 Gitane Champion du Monde, 70 Gitane Super Corsa, 70 Carre, 87 Gitane Team Pro, 77/78 Ritchey Tandem
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They just have a certain panache about them, especially Gitane IMnotsoHO…as did their riders… Anquetil, Hinault, Fignon, and LeMond to name a few.
Last edited by Markeologist; 02-10-24 at 02:56 PM.
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#236
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#237
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Lovely. That's very close to the color I'm going to repaint my '72 Interclub and possibly my '73 Tour de France, I hope they turn out this nice.
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#238
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Bikes: Since new: 86 Rodriguez Tandem, wife's 87 Gitane Team Pro, 92 Burley Rock-n-Roll, 85 Fisher Comp, 88 Puch Pro, two 92 Bridgestone X0-1s; later: 66/67 Gitane Champion du Monde, 70 Gitane Super Corsa, 70 Carre, 87 Gitane Team Pro, 77/78 Ritchey Tandem
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#239
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Location: Marin County, Alta California
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Bikes: Since new: 86 Rodriguez Tandem, wife's 87 Gitane Team Pro, 92 Burley Rock-n-Roll, 85 Fisher Comp, 88 Puch Pro, two 92 Bridgestone X0-1s; later: 66/67 Gitane Champion du Monde, 70 Gitane Super Corsa, 70 Carre, 87 Gitane Team Pro, 77/78 Ritchey Tandem
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#241
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Except LeMond is American..! (Which isn’t to say he didn’t/doesn’t have his own panache- certainly more than a particular juiced up American that came up just after him….)
#242
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I think I'm attracted to 80's C&V French bikes because of their understated, classic looks, compared to other bikes from other countries.
it's like seeing a woman dressed in a Chanel outfit with its very basic lines and colors which is classy, not tacky....
it's like seeing a woman dressed in a Chanel outfit with its very basic lines and colors which is classy, not tacky....
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72 Line Seeker
83 Davidson Signature
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Peugeot PY10FC
84 Gitane Tour de France.
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7
86 ALAN Record Carbonio
86 Medici Aerodynamic (Project)
88 Pinarello Montello
89 Bottecchia Professional Chorus SL
95 Trek 5500 OCLV (Project)