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What's so special about French bikes?

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What's so special about French bikes?

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Old 04-07-23, 03:05 PM
  #226  
awac
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Originally Posted by bikemig
Wow!
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Old 04-07-23, 03:09 PM
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My 1993 Peugeot Prestige in Reynolds 708 Classic (pic from some years ago)
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Old 02-01-24, 03:36 PM
  #228  
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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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Old 02-05-24, 11:14 AM
  #229  
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These one behaves quite well on the road….even with its “winter” heavy wheels…

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Old 02-06-24, 08:23 AM
  #230  
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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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Old 02-06-24, 08:39 AM
  #231  
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Originally Posted by El Chaba
These one behaves quite well on the road….even with its “winter” heavy wheels…

Beautiful BaCo.
​​​​​zephyrblau has one for sale, a 53cm Wolhauser-branded
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Old 02-06-24, 08:33 PM
  #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.
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Old 02-07-24, 12:32 PM
  #233  
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Originally Posted by repechage
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.
Apparently, they did quite a bit of contract building. They built 753 frames for Mercier as well. Many of their frames not built under contract had very little in the way of lettering….often just the French flag bands on the seat tube. Off the top of my head, I can’t recall any of their bikes with a tubing sticker at all except for the 753 bikes or the Wolhausers. I have no clue about the tubing used in my bike as I have found no markings whatsoever.
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Old 02-07-24, 12:53 PM
  #234  
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Old 02-10-24, 02:48 PM
  #235  
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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.

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Old 02-10-24, 03:22 PM
  #236  
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Originally Posted by Markeologist
They just have a certain panache about them, especially Gitane IMnotsoHO…as did their riders… Anquetil, Hinault, Fignon, and LeMond to name a few.
but like Lejeune they use Campagnolo.
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Old 02-10-24, 03:54 PM
  #237  
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Originally Posted by Markeologist
They just have a certain panache about them, especially Gitane IMnotsoHO…as did their riders… Anquetil, Hinault, Fignon, and LeMond to name a few.
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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Old 02-10-24, 04:20 PM
  #238  
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Originally Posted by repechage
but like Lejeune they use Campagnolo.
Not completely true (see Fignon’s TdF-winning models) but I do love my vintage Campy…I have Record, Nuovo Record, and first-gen Chorus on various Gitanes.
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Old 02-10-24, 04:22 PM
  #239  
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Originally Posted by Murray Missile
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.
Thanks MM…its an early Super Corsa survivor with original paint.
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Old 02-10-24, 06:20 PM
  #240  
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Originally Posted by Markeologist
Thanks MM…its an early Super Corsa survivor with original paint.
Love it.
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Old 02-10-24, 07:28 PM
  #241  
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Originally Posted by Markeologist
They just have a certain panache about them, especially Gitane IMnotsoHO…as did their riders… Anquetil, Hinault, Fignon, and LeMond to name a few.
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….)
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Old 02-12-24, 02:11 AM
  #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....
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