Canuk
Old School Grand Master
So I'm pretty lucky in my job, I work in Avionics and spend half the year in the Toulouse region, half the year in the UK and I get to see all sorts of rare hand made artisan French and Spanish bikes.
French randonneurs, nice though they are, are the Ford Mondeo of indigenous production. Unless you are prepared to stump for the four figure (occasionally five) prices of say a 'constructeur' like Rene Herse, they're all pretty similar in terms of style and components. Mercier, Lejeune, Peugeot, etc they're all the same. They tend to follow a very rigid format and I find them a bit dull compared to the prancing horse Ferraris of the French artisan steel offerings. My particular favourites are Cyfac, Raymond Clerc, Andre Sabliere, Bernard Carre, Alex Singer, Sauret, Geliano, and Ganolo. Even low end, utility racing bikes can be extraordinary, and they do go absolutely bonkers for paint and chrome finishes. There are still a lot of French niche component manufacturers also, making very exotic stuff.
Buying in bulk is a big thing in France. 'Lots' is the thing to search for. You can buy just about anything in 'Lots'. 75 pairs of Campagnolo 10 speed levers, no problem? 200 Ideale leather saddles? 2000 rear reflectors from 1950, get that all the time. For instance, I could've picked up 18 reasonable finish track frames, and pretty much enough parts to build a dozen complete, for 800 euro last month. That's about £55 a bike in sterling...
I'm also trying to build a small collection of ex pro raced bicycles. Which is a lot easier than you'd think - when continental ex team mechanics retire, they take EVERYTHING! And I mean EVERYTHING ! I visit one regularly who has a wardrobe full of genuine Yellow and Pink jerseys from ex stage and Tour winners. Mechanics see it as their 'contrat de travail' to have it away with whatever is left at the end of a major Tour. There are literally hundreds of small time frame makers still putting out exceptional stuff, even in the face of ubiquitous carbon. In fact in comparison to the UK, French artisan steel production is thriving. They even make curly Hetchins knock offs!
So, here we go!
French randonneurs, nice though they are, are the Ford Mondeo of indigenous production. Unless you are prepared to stump for the four figure (occasionally five) prices of say a 'constructeur' like Rene Herse, they're all pretty similar in terms of style and components. Mercier, Lejeune, Peugeot, etc they're all the same. They tend to follow a very rigid format and I find them a bit dull compared to the prancing horse Ferraris of the French artisan steel offerings. My particular favourites are Cyfac, Raymond Clerc, Andre Sabliere, Bernard Carre, Alex Singer, Sauret, Geliano, and Ganolo. Even low end, utility racing bikes can be extraordinary, and they do go absolutely bonkers for paint and chrome finishes. There are still a lot of French niche component manufacturers also, making very exotic stuff.
Buying in bulk is a big thing in France. 'Lots' is the thing to search for. You can buy just about anything in 'Lots'. 75 pairs of Campagnolo 10 speed levers, no problem? 200 Ideale leather saddles? 2000 rear reflectors from 1950, get that all the time. For instance, I could've picked up 18 reasonable finish track frames, and pretty much enough parts to build a dozen complete, for 800 euro last month. That's about £55 a bike in sterling...
I'm also trying to build a small collection of ex pro raced bicycles. Which is a lot easier than you'd think - when continental ex team mechanics retire, they take EVERYTHING! And I mean EVERYTHING ! I visit one regularly who has a wardrobe full of genuine Yellow and Pink jerseys from ex stage and Tour winners. Mechanics see it as their 'contrat de travail' to have it away with whatever is left at the end of a major Tour. There are literally hundreds of small time frame makers still putting out exceptional stuff, even in the face of ubiquitous carbon. In fact in comparison to the UK, French artisan steel production is thriving. They even make curly Hetchins knock offs!
So, here we go!
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