58cm 1950s P Vanden Borre £195 posted to the UK (From Belgium)
More, high-res pictures towards the bottom of the google album here:
https://plus.google.com/photos/10801501 ... g6KQ-6LzRA
P Vanden Borre were based near me in central Brussels in the 1950s.
It's a nicely made bike with a wealth of rarish early componentry. Far from cosmetically perfect - I don't think the paintwork was ever very durable, but a very pretty bike nonetheless. You can get a good idea of the condition from the google album - not bad at all for a 60ish year old!
It is structurally very sound and rides well. Could do with new cables all round, mostly for cosmetic reasons - it works fine as it is and I took it on a 100km ride last year without issue.
It'd look much nicer with some white-walled tyres, I just bought whatever was available from my LBS prior to taking it for a big ride. The 700c rims are the old hookless type, so you need to be careful with tyre choice.
As far as I know the components are all original except for the SR seatpost and Cinelli Unicanitor leather saddle - I replaced the original as it was a horrible plastic thing with a basic steel post.
Reynolds 531 "3 tubes reinforcés" frame with fancy lugs
Huret "Tour De France" mechs (Huret equipped bikes won the TDF in 1953, 1954 and 1955)
Cottered chainset with Milremo rings
Titan Bars and Stem - S Maes, M Kint, A Scotte, V Steenbergen engraved on the bars to celebrate various victories won with this model.
Mafac Brakes & Levers
Campagnolo Gran Sport Hubs with Weinemann Clincher Rims
Atom pedals included but not pictured
More, high-res pictures towards the bottom of the google album here:
https://plus.google.com/photos/10801501 ... g6KQ-6LzRA
P Vanden Borre were based near me in central Brussels in the 1950s.
It's a nicely made bike with a wealth of rarish early componentry. Far from cosmetically perfect - I don't think the paintwork was ever very durable, but a very pretty bike nonetheless. You can get a good idea of the condition from the google album - not bad at all for a 60ish year old!
It is structurally very sound and rides well. Could do with new cables all round, mostly for cosmetic reasons - it works fine as it is and I took it on a 100km ride last year without issue.
It'd look much nicer with some white-walled tyres, I just bought whatever was available from my LBS prior to taking it for a big ride. The 700c rims are the old hookless type, so you need to be careful with tyre choice.
As far as I know the components are all original except for the SR seatpost and Cinelli Unicanitor leather saddle - I replaced the original as it was a horrible plastic thing with a basic steel post.
Reynolds 531 "3 tubes reinforcés" frame with fancy lugs
Huret "Tour De France" mechs (Huret equipped bikes won the TDF in 1953, 1954 and 1955)
Cottered chainset with Milremo rings
Titan Bars and Stem - S Maes, M Kint, A Scotte, V Steenbergen engraved on the bars to celebrate various victories won with this model.
Mafac Brakes & Levers
Campagnolo Gran Sport Hubs with Weinemann Clincher Rims
Atom pedals included but not pictured
