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

[novocaine]

is @Guinessisgoodforyou going to do the British version?

If so, I might have a Carlton GP for him to do it too, because I'm about done with it hanging in the loft gathering dust.

 

[Imlach]

I'll send you a PM in a while - for some very very odd reason I've developed into a Simplex fanboy

Are Simplex fanboys not collectively known as Simpletons?

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Are Simplex fanboys not collectively known as Simpletons?

Ouch

 

[Mod-Master]

Are Simplex fanboys not collectively known as Simpletons?

Damn, @Woz got burned big time.

 

[Imlach]

Damn, @Woz got burned big time.

Afraid not. He's cooking up some mad comeback no doubt and when the time is right he goes in for the kill.

He will probably make fun of my lego duplo Minivelo as well

 

[Joe_Rides]

View attachment 755663

That's awesome.

 

[vcballbat]

Just spotted this on eBay, looks very similar to La Gazelle

Lightweight Randonneur Bicycle 53cm Alex Singer, Rene Herse style circa 1940-50 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Lightweight Randonneur Bicycle 53cm Alex Singer, Rene Herse style circa 1940-50 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Woz]

That is an absolute star post @vcballbat I've got to dig deeper what is showed then and will comment later.

Right now, period is exact. I would say potentially late 40s. The parallels with the EdN are incredible and astonishing.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Thank god that's too small

 

[Woz]

Just spotted this on eBay, looks very similar to La Gazelle

Lightweight Randonneur Bicycle 53cm Alex Singer, Rene Herse style circa 1940-50 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Lightweight Randonneur Bicycle 53cm Alex Singer, Rene Herse style circa 1940-50 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

View attachment 865709

Owner address on the rear brake caliper 265 Avenue Georges Clemenceau, Nanterre - north west Paris region, not far from Bois de Bologne a popular riding area.

Think this may be more in 3 x 1 era and would have had a Simplex mech with an hanger plate (?). I would love to see the frame and fork number stamping. Very difficult to say if this is a La Gazelle - once again this gives credibility to the idea there was an army of subcontractors in the Paris region. The paint detail on the frame, fork crown and mudguards absolutely looks like it was done with the same very skilled hand like on the EdN and like others of a similar period we've seen. The lack of headbadge and one decal (which doesn't ring any bells with me) almost suggests the maker did not want to be known - or wanted to be very very discrete and modest about it?

Very high end parts, geometry bang on, not a randonneur like the EdN, built for mudguards only. Interesting the Exceltoo small flange hub, and looking again it may be in it's original single speed configuration. Definitely a custom made lightweight frameset.

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