Help me re-build my Bernard Carre´
10-03-20, 07:23 AM
#1
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Help me re-build my Bernard Carre´
Howdy, y'all. It's been a while since I wandered through the halls of BF (years, in fact.) As fall descends upon us and I begin to ponder possible winter projects, my thoughts have turned to one of my favorite bikes, built around a ca. 1970's Bernard Carre´frame, seen below. For the most part I've had this bike built up with a hodgepodge of very functional but fairly pedestrian bits and pieces. Everything works fine, so there's absolutely no reason - other than I like to tinker - to change anything. In fact, I rather like that most cyclists look at what my wife calls "that ugly pink thing" with disdain: I've never had anyone take a second look at this bike, which means I'm slightly less concerned about bike theft than with my other bikes.
So why am I posting after a years long absence? Well, I'm parts rich and as I said, I like to tinker. I could leave things alone and continue to ride as happily as ever. ORRRR...I could employ the SLJ mechs I originally sourced for this bike, but left sitting in my studio because I got lazy and stopped searching for shift levers. I could leave the French components alone and go period Italian... or blaspheme further still and stick with Japanese, perhaps a first generation Cyclone. I've got cranksets that would pair nicely with any of these options, but the MAFAC cantis will remain no matter what I ultimately do: they are perfection.
So... what are your thoughts? ´
So why am I posting after a years long absence? Well, I'm parts rich and as I said, I like to tinker. I could leave things alone and continue to ride as happily as ever. ORRRR...I could employ the SLJ mechs I originally sourced for this bike, but left sitting in my studio because I got lazy and stopped searching for shift levers. I could leave the French components alone and go period Italian... or blaspheme further still and stick with Japanese, perhaps a first generation Cyclone. I've got cranksets that would pair nicely with any of these options, but the MAFAC cantis will remain no matter what I ultimately do: they are perfection.
So... what are your thoughts? ´
10-03-20, 12:27 PM
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AZORCH-
Welcome back! Go French. The Simplex LJ/SLJ kit is outstanding, add a Stronglight 93 (where you can go to a 37T inner if need be) and some genuine Mafac levers and you're there. With the Mafac cantis as a fixed, non-negotiable starting point, it is the logical way to go.
Welcome back! Go French. The Simplex LJ/SLJ kit is outstanding, add a Stronglight 93 (where you can go to a 37T inner if need be) and some genuine Mafac levers and you're there. With the Mafac cantis as a fixed, non-negotiable starting point, it is the logical way to go.
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10-03-20, 01:12 PM
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With those colors, and those dropouts (assuming Campagnolo) I'd follow the early seventies GAN Mercier team professionals and go with Campagnolo NR. And remember: only two (2) top tube cable clips!
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10-03-20, 02:02 PM
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AZORCH-
Welcome back! Go French. The Simplex LJ/SLJ kit is outstanding, add a Stronglight 93 (where you can go to a 37T inner if need be) and some genuine Mafac levers and you're there. With the Mafac cantis as a fixed, non-negotiable starting point, it is the logical way to go.
Welcome back! Go French. The Simplex LJ/SLJ kit is outstanding, add a Stronglight 93 (where you can go to a 37T inner if need be) and some genuine Mafac levers and you're there. With the Mafac cantis as a fixed, non-negotiable starting point, it is the logical way to go.
10-03-20, 04:29 PM
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Ugly pink frame? I think that is gorgeous. I am not, in general, a pink fan but I love pink bikes.
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10-03-20, 04:32 PM
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10-03-20, 04:33 PM
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AZORCH -
The 37T inner is available from Red Clover Components here: 122 BCD Conventional Chainring, 37 Teeth
And, yes, musing, considering, alternating build configurations - we do it so well. Have fun with the process, it's a very special bike.
The 37T inner is available from Red Clover Components here: 122 BCD Conventional Chainring, 37 Teeth
And, yes, musing, considering, alternating build configurations - we do it so well. Have fun with the process, it's a very special bike.
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10-03-20, 06:40 PM
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Another vote for French.
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10-03-20, 07:08 PM
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Do I see wideish tires? I definitely see fender eyelets. Cantis. Nice bell...
Build yourself a sweet randonneur? TA crank, racks, choice baggage. Could be one heck of a French fender fantasy machine.
Build yourself a sweet randonneur? TA crank, racks, choice baggage. Could be one heck of a French fender fantasy machine.
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10-04-20, 07:19 AM
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Welcome back Mr. AZORCH!
Another vote here for all French, especially since you’ve already got all the parts on hand. That’s a really nice frame with a great pedigree. It deserves it. Maybe even embrace your inner-Francophile and install some hammered fenders.
I’d give that bike a second look for sure. I normally don’t care much for pink, but that’s a very tasteful shade. Given the chance (and if I were a different person, of course), I’d steal that bike!
Another vote here for all French, especially since you’ve already got all the parts on hand. That’s a really nice frame with a great pedigree. It deserves it. Maybe even embrace your inner-Francophile and install some hammered fenders.
I’d give that bike a second look for sure. I normally don’t care much for pink, but that’s a very tasteful shade. Given the chance (and if I were a different person, of course), I’d steal that bike!
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10-04-20, 08:39 AM
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Welcome back.
I prefer silver rims. Just a thought.
I prefer silver rims. Just a thought.
10-04-20, 08:51 AM
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I showed the photo of your bike to my wife. She informed me that’s it’s not pink at all. According to her, it’s “fuchsia”.
She had the 128 Crayola box when she was a kid, so I trust her on this.
10-04-20, 09:52 AM
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Welcome back. I can relate to tinkering. I tend to do that myself.
My question is this. Is this going to be parts driven or is there a specific use intended? I believe that is going to drive the tinkerage.
My thoughts, assuming the bike is going to be an all-rounder go anywhere bike.
My question is this. Is this going to be parts driven or is there a specific use intended? I believe that is going to drive the tinkerage.
My thoughts, assuming the bike is going to be an all-rounder go anywhere bike.
- Go Simplex. If the RD you are going to use has the pivot closer to the upper jockey wheel than the center, you will be able to handle a wide range of cogs. Even the standard model does well. The SLJ front will also handle a wide range. Both from personal experience.
- Agree with iab on the silver rims. Pelissier 2000 hubs or Maillard 700.
- Stronglight 49 or TA crank. 46/30 or even lower on the small ring.
- I can tell you I am running 38mm tires on a similar frame. Rear wheel all the way back. The pic you share looks like you already know that.
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10-04-20, 02:20 PM
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Where did you find matching toe straps?
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10-04-20, 08:16 PM
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10-06-20, 07:54 PM
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Well, these are the components I'll be using, I think. I roughly positioned things this afternoon and realized my spindle is too short for the crank. Time to start cleaning up parts and digging in the bins for a longer spindle.
10-09-20, 06:25 PM
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OK, here we are with the (mostly) finished Frenchification. The bars are wrapped with some used black cloth wrap until the new stuff arrives - I thought I had a few rolls of Newbaum's on hand but either they've been mislaid or I was mistaken.
The "down the block and around the neighborhood ride" felt very good. I'll probably take her out for a ride through the river bottoms in the morning.
The "down the block and around the neighborhood ride" felt very good. I'll probably take her out for a ride through the river bottoms in the morning.
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10-09-20, 07:40 PM
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10-09-20, 07:44 PM
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I used black housing, but am rethinking that now and considering white instead. I'll cogitate on that a while, and wait for the bar wrap to see if I still feel ambivalent about the black.
Last edited by AZORCH; 10-10-20 at 06:17 AM.
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10-12-20, 09:09 AM
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For the next rebuild, you should look at Julio Jimenez's 1967 TdF bike (badged Geminiani but more than likely a Carre) on page 186 of the 2nd Edition of Van Der Plas and Berto's Rebour book....check the CANTILEVER BRAKES!!! Julio won King of the Mtn. in 67 TdF. I was posting yesterday on Traver's Carre build, some pix over there. I'm building up a Carre along the lines of this original bike of Jacques Anquetil (note JA on seat stay cap). I even have an original Campy Record (pre-NR) stashed away. This bikes paint, like mine, is more in line with the Ford/Bic Geminianis rather than that team's Anquetils which were darker blue.
10-14-20, 04:12 PM
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Aaaaand, here she is.
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10-14-20, 04:26 PM
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Sweet. 
10-14-20, 05:25 PM
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TOUT FRENCH!, TOUT FRENCH!, TOUT FRENCH!, TOUT FRENCH!!
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10-14-20, 05:51 PM
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...but you have to get rid of that Dia-Compe front brake hanger when Mafacs are so readily available.
10-14-20, 06:33 PM
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