Early 50s La Gazelle - Eau-de-Nil 🛠️ The Merlot Aftermath 🍷

Not even something like this will fit:

iu


....... because ....... it's a 8 sided nut shape and not a 6 sided nut shape. Utter genius.

If you want a bike that doesn't require anything from rip off Park Tool - get an old French one :LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL:
 
Woz said:
Not even something like this will fit:

iu


....... because ....... it's a 8 sided nut shape and not a 6 sided nut shape. Utter genius.

If you want a bike that doesn't require anything from rip off Park Tool - get an old French one :LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL:
Click to expand...
But monsewer ze octagon looks good no?
 
A lot of headsets are 8 sided. Same thing too going back a few pages the headset locknut is thin as fcuk too.

Found this which is 37mm and what a surprise it's for the old front wheel drive Solex mobylettes. For thin 8 sided nuts.
https://www.ebay.fr/itm/185750143175

Think I will ask a couple of the old retired car / tractor mechanics in the village if they have something.
 
Step 1 Buy cheap French bike
Step 2 Joyous drink to the bargain
Step 3 Begin stripping (ze velo)
Step 4 Realise you can't take it apart
Step 5 Proceed to spend 10x the price of the bike on various tools to disassemble

Rinse and repeat, an enthusiast.
 
That's actually about right. The budgets gone to hell when I add it all up. There's also the extra steps of buying cheap obsolete 60s / 70s doner bikes for parts too. I'm hoping to sell some left over stuff over summer to keep it in check.
 
⚠️ WARNING - OCD Triggers - Mystery - Wine Infused Rational Thought Content

Not going to make a secret of it, but I'm somewhat chasing my tale a bit with this bike. Thankfully via a "cry for help" type thread here that @Guinessisgoodforyou is helping with sound tech help and ideas, along with my alter ego @Imlach for moral help, I got re-focused and motivated again. Decided to re-visit the Stronglight cottered cranks, do some disassembly and cleaning with various wire brushes, scouring pads, and wire wool. It was all bliss and therapeutic 🕊️ .

While cleaning them I was admiring the extraordinary low weight of anorexic French steel, beautiful vintage precision machining, and pleased that they are in not in bad shape for something 70 odd years old.

I then put the cranks together to stand back and admire them and I swear I saw the solar system collapse in front of me.

DSC_0434.jpg

All I could do was stand saying "No" repeatedly about an octave lower than normal. What seemed an eternity after there was no choice but to consult the interweb for answers via the fridge and a pick-me-up boisson.

Obscene time was spent thinking that one crank is newer than the other. Couldn't understand that they appear aged at the same rate. I found absolutely nothing on the web. The shape of each crank arm is identical. The closest I got is that from 1946 - 1949 there appears to be a mixture of logo types between old and new. No pictures or any other examples of Competition Crank different logo types to be found. Needless to say I then went in various rabbit warrens in doing so and picked up some interesting stuff for later 👍 . Including these two links that people have put some effort in this subject related to models and logos:

https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/classic_components/stronglight-steel-cottered-cranks/
https://veloretrocourse.proboards.com/thread/1095/les-strongs

I can't conclude this anomalie at all.

There is of course the famous "prototype" and "banged out Friday afternoon" theory, which was rather rudely put forward on @Mod-Master build thread here. There is also the "crash damage replacement" theory, but I see no evidence of this. Also, the French seem to be heroes for individual part ordering and supply so it may be something cobbled together post war from available stocks.

I'm now at peace with myself over this. I would actually like that it is a Friday afternoon job. In August 1956 French school kids at their school lunch could no longer drink wine. This bike pre-dates that - fact! This Saturday night, I feel there can't be a better way to connect to a bike knowing it may have been the result over many consecutive 3 hr Friday lunches with Pernod and wine drunk by many various people along the way.
 
With it's age and being post war, it could well be using old stock. Or maybe the stamping was a two part process, rings and lines are the second op? If that's the case Pierre was so p1ssed after lunch he just went at it, lit another Gitane and threw it in the parts bin with the rest. Marcel in QC just waved it through because he was hanging and no amount of Merlot was sorting it out. Rene just boxed 'em and sent them out. The fitter at La Gazelle shrugged lit his fag and smashed the cotters home. 2023 Merlot once again plays its part...
 
Woz said:
⚠️ WARNING - OCD Triggers - Mystery - Wine Infused Rational Thought Content

Not going to make a secret of it, but I'm somewhat chasing my tale a bit with this bike. Thankfully via a "cry for help" type thread here that @Guinessisgoodforyou is helping with sound tech help and ideas, along with my alter ego @Imlach for moral help, I got re-focused and motivated again. Decided to re-visit the Stronglight cottered cranks, do some disassembly and cleaning with various wire brushes, scouring pads, and wire wool. It was all bliss and therapeutic 🕊️ .

While cleaning them I was admiring the extraordinary low weight of anorexic French steel, beautiful vintage precision machining, and pleased that they are in not in bad shape for something 70 odd years old.

I then put the cranks together to stand back and admire them and I swear I saw the solar system collapse in front of me.

View attachment 731049

All I could do was stand saying "No" repeatedly about an octave lower than normal. What seemed an eternity after there was no choice but to consult the interweb for answers via the fridge and a pick-me-up boisson.

Obscene time was spent thinking that one crank is newer than the other. Couldn't understand that they appear aged at the same rate. I found absolutely nothing on the web. The shape of each crank arm is identical. The closest I got is that from 1946 - 1949 there appears to be a mixture of logo types between old and new. No pictures or any other examples of Competition Crank different logo types to be found. Needless to say I then went in various rabbit warrens in doing so and picked up some interesting stuff for later 👍 . Including these two links that people have put some effort in this subject related to models and logos:

https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/classic_components/stronglight-steel-cottered-cranks/
https://veloretrocourse.proboards.com/thread/1095/les-strongs

I can't conclude this anomalie at all.

There is of course the famous "prototype" and "banged out Friday afternoon" theory, which was rather rudely put forward on @Mod-Master build thread here. There is also the "crash damage replacement" theory, but I see no evidence of this. Also, the French seem to be heroes for individual part ordering and supply so it may be something cobbled together post war from available stocks.

I'm now at peace with myself over this. I would actually like that it is a Friday afternoon job. In August 1956 French school kids at their school lunch could no longer drink wine. This bike pre-dates that - fact! This Saturday night, I feel there can't be a better way to connect to a bike knowing it may have been the result over many consecutive 3 hr Friday lunches with Pernod and wine drunk by many various people along the way.
Click to expand...
True hand made stuff, I think seeing them. It oozes age and value. Lovely slender cranks them.
 
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