chickendrumsticks
Senior Retro Guru
A rather corpulent gazelle don't you think? Who looks indignant at being disturbed during his 2 hour French lunchbreak
Early 50s La Gazelle - Eau-de-Nil 🛠️ The Merlot Aftermath 🍷
- Thread starter Woz
- Start date
Yeah, that wouldn't out-run a cheetah even with just a coffee and a croissant for breakfast. Dama Gazelle seems to fit the head-badge.
chickendrumsticks
Senior Retro Guru
I guess they have to stock up a bit, given where they live and not knowing when their next breakfast will be...
vcballbat
Senior Retro Guru
Yesterday I did a bit of a search of the name on the stem tag J L Coutard but didn't come to much but the name J L Godard popped up and found some pictures from the set of Breathless. Today I hear the sad news that the maverick film director has sadly passed..
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62886470
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62886470
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@vcballbat - cool pics, thanks for posting them. Indeed tonight I'm watching some of his films.
PS: Just re-checked looking close at the badge itself, the name is J.C Coutard - I imagine a local club rider, or simply someone who would ride around Bois-de-Boulogne and occasionally longer distances to leave the concrete jungle behind for a while.
PS: Just re-checked looking close at the badge itself, the name is J.C Coutard - I imagine a local club rider, or simply someone who would ride around Bois-de-Boulogne and occasionally longer distances to leave the concrete jungle behind for a while.
Rod_Saetan
Old School Grand Master
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This just popped up on Instant Graham:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CifHZfBAFTR/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CifHZfBAFTR/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
What a gem!. That as got to be saved!
Thank's for posting - looks like a charity shop find. Pixie voices and cherubs on synths to boot
Great one Woz, just stumbled on this yesterday and was glad to find 23 pages to catch up on 
. I don't pay enough attention to the Retro Road Bike section 
. I don't pay enough attention to the Retro Road Bike section Spec Sheet - As Found 
Here is the specification sheet - according to house etiquette - of the bike as found. There may be one or two edits going forward, but right now I believe it's rather complete. With all the input and great help, it turns out that many high end French racing bikes of the period had a very similar specification so could be helpful to others.
Year: Early 1950s.
Frame: La Gazelle - tubeset unknown, probably Vitus. EDA bottom bracket shell, Simplex Competition drop-outs.
Fork: La Gazelle - tubeset unknown, probably Vitus. Simplex Competition fork ends.
Headset: Torevess - Grand Luxe Course
Stem: Philippe - Mil Remo
Handlebar: Only marking is "B". Assume this is the model and not the make.
Bar Tape: ....shall we just not talk about that (not original).
Bar End Plugs: Used wine bottle corks. Wine unknown (not original).
Brake Levers: LAM - Super Dural Course.
Brake Calipers: LAM - Super Dural Course.
Brake Pads: LAM - Super Dural Course.
Brake Cables: Unknown, probably LAM.
Shifter (rear only): Simplex - model unknown, assume Tour de France.
Front Derailleur: Huret - model unknown, stick shift Suicide lever type.
Rear Derailleur: Simplex - Tour de France.
Derailleur Cable: Unknown, probably Simplex.
Cassette: Not present.
Chain: Sedis - Yellorex 3/32".
Cranks: Stronglight - Competition (172.5mm long & 3 arm).
Chainrings: Huret - Tour de France 50T outer & 47T inner.
Bottom Bracket: Torevess - Grand Luxe Course (hollow & cotter pin).
Pedals: Lyotard - Tour de France 15B.
Toe Clips: J. Ruhier (Paris)
Saddle: Pyrma Speciale 515.
Saddle Clamp: Pyrma.
Seatpost: Durafort 26.2mm
Seatpost Binder Bolt: Unknown.
Bottle Cage: Not present, but evidence there was one handlebar mounted.
Mudguards: RBN Robineau (Paris).
Dynamo: Roto-Phare 6v 0.3A.
Lights: Cibié & Luxor.
There was no wheelset when I got the bike. With the reliable date period I will do some research on what they could have been.
Reading through the specification, a few things come to mind. Proudly and unashamedly making it obvious there is not a single item from outside of France. It reads like a menu at a top-class restaurant; ingredients appear to be hand selected, it all fits together as if it was a modern off the shelf gruppo. Parts are from larger manufactures across France down to small local manufactures.
All the parts are race grade, but the bike is not a racer. Making a comparison with the car world, it's more like it was intended to do Le Mans 24 hr rather than a Formula 1. It may have been called a Demi-Course; the high gearing and lack of rack braze-ons does not make it a Randonneur.
The frame does not appear to have any serial number or stampings. I can just make out something on the NDS chain-stay close to the bottom bracket shell, but I think that could be related to the tubeset (TBC). The EDA logo on the bottom bracket shell is showing very faint under the paint. Haven't taken the forks off yet to see if there is something stamped on the steering column.
Here is the specification sheet - according to house etiquette - of the bike as found. There may be one or two edits going forward, but right now I believe it's rather complete. With all the input and great help, it turns out that many high end French racing bikes of the period had a very similar specification so could be helpful to others.
Year: Early 1950s.
Frame: La Gazelle - tubeset unknown, probably Vitus. EDA bottom bracket shell, Simplex Competition drop-outs.
Fork: La Gazelle - tubeset unknown, probably Vitus. Simplex Competition fork ends.
Headset: Torevess - Grand Luxe Course
Stem: Philippe - Mil Remo
Handlebar: Only marking is "B". Assume this is the model and not the make.
Bar Tape: ....shall we just not talk about that (not original).
Bar End Plugs: Used wine bottle corks. Wine unknown (not original).
Brake Levers: LAM - Super Dural Course.
Brake Calipers: LAM - Super Dural Course.
Brake Pads: LAM - Super Dural Course.
Brake Cables: Unknown, probably LAM.
Shifter (rear only): Simplex - model unknown, assume Tour de France.
Front Derailleur: Huret - model unknown, stick shift Suicide lever type.
Rear Derailleur: Simplex - Tour de France.
Derailleur Cable: Unknown, probably Simplex.
Cassette: Not present.
Chain: Sedis - Yellorex 3/32".
Cranks: Stronglight - Competition (172.5mm long & 3 arm).
Chainrings: Huret - Tour de France 50T outer & 47T inner.
Bottom Bracket: Torevess - Grand Luxe Course (hollow & cotter pin).
Pedals: Lyotard - Tour de France 15B.
Toe Clips: J. Ruhier (Paris)
Saddle: Pyrma Speciale 515.
Saddle Clamp: Pyrma.
Seatpost: Durafort 26.2mm
Seatpost Binder Bolt: Unknown.
Bottle Cage: Not present, but evidence there was one handlebar mounted.
Mudguards: RBN Robineau (Paris).
Dynamo: Roto-Phare 6v 0.3A.
Lights: Cibié & Luxor.
There was no wheelset when I got the bike. With the reliable date period I will do some research on what they could have been.
Reading through the specification, a few things come to mind. Proudly and unashamedly making it obvious there is not a single item from outside of France. It reads like a menu at a top-class restaurant; ingredients appear to be hand selected, it all fits together as if it was a modern off the shelf gruppo. Parts are from larger manufactures across France down to small local manufactures.
All the parts are race grade, but the bike is not a racer. Making a comparison with the car world, it's more like it was intended to do Le Mans 24 hr rather than a Formula 1. It may have been called a Demi-Course; the high gearing and lack of rack braze-ons does not make it a Randonneur.
The frame does not appear to have any serial number or stampings. I can just make out something on the NDS chain-stay close to the bottom bracket shell, but I think that could be related to the tubeset (TBC). The EDA logo on the bottom bracket shell is showing very faint under the paint. Haven't taken the forks off yet to see if there is something stamped on the steering column.
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Mickeyspinn
rBotM Winner
I'd expect rim wise it'd been fitted with mavics most likely!
What would be really cool woz if you get time is a bit of weighing ! Things like your seatpost intrigue me....I think as it a domed top one it'll be a spun thing. Unless yours is brazed closed?
Look forward to more pics things like your bottom bracket....that will most likely be a thing of beauty in the finish of it.do check around the flat for overtightening damage tho....where it's a hollow axle it's pretty thinwall!
What would be really cool woz if you get time is a bit of weighing ! Things like your seatpost intrigue me....I think as it a domed top one it'll be a spun thing. Unless yours is brazed closed?
Look forward to more pics
things like your bottom bracket....that will most likely be a thing of beauty in the finish of it.do check around the flat for overtightening damage tho....where it's a hollow axle it's pretty thinwall!
