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

🛠️ There's been a few discussions about the fork steerer column - stem interface on French bikes.

The issue is the 1" fork steerer had a French metrification - the internal diameter is 22.0mm as opposed to the normal 22.2mm.

There are plenty of French 22.0mm stems out there ....... but ........ they will most probably have a 25mm bar clamp rather than the normal 25.4mm. Once again, these fraction of millimetres differences start to be a pain in the arse. In my own case, I'm actually not happy with older French 25mm handlebars; I find them too narrow compared to what I prefer plus old aluminium is something I'm a bit risk adverse to unless I can see the condition with my own eyes before I buy.

From memory, @Guinessisgoodforyou said one solution are stems with a 22.0mm plunger and 25.4mm clamp. They do exist, but I found on Ebay.fr a lot are really crap low grade steel MTB / Kids bike stuff, or some very expensive specific Sakae stuff at a stupid price. The choice is really bad I found. @M_Chavez stated simply sanding the 0.2mm off a normal stem should be easy enough. Our chief engineer @Mickeyspinn stated it is more difficult than it sounds to make something perfectly round by hand.

I've done this type of sanding before on a seat-post - 27.2mm down to 27.0mm and do remember it is a mind numbing task where you regret even starting. This morning I did a little test on an old normal stem to shave off 0.2mm by hand as best as I could. I'm very happy with the result. First was to put a stop point above the min insertion point. One sheet of 80 grit paper cut up in strips. Working dry with no water or oil. About 40 mins later of sanding and trying, it started to go in and I could clearly see scratch marks where it wasn't round. Another 20 mins later working much more slowly and constantly checking and removing the scratch marks got it to enter very snuggly all the way. Finished it off with 600 grit to just skim of any fine lumps. Works a treat. Recommend you use a slanted edge type wedge rather than the conical type.

1664455864541.png

I've now polished the remaining part of the stem with fine wire wool and it looks a good un :)
 
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Woz said:
🛠️ There's been a few discussions about the fork steerer column - stem interface on French bikes.

The issue is the 1" fork steerer had a French metrification - the internal diameter is 22.0mm as opposed to the normal 22.2mm.

There are plenty of French 22.0mm stems out there ....... but ........ they will most probably have a 25mm bar clamp rather than the normal 25.4mm. Once again, these fraction of millimetres differences start to be a pain in the arse. In my own case, I'm actually not happy with older French 25mm handlebars; I find them too narrow compared to what I prefer plus old aluminium is something I'm a bit risk adverse to unless I can see the condition with my own eyes before I buy.

From memory, @Guinessisgoodforyou said one solution are stems with a 22.0mm plunger and 25.4mm clamp. They do exist, but I found on Ebay.fr a lot are really crap low grade steel MTB / Kids bike stuff, or some very expensive specific Sakae stuff at a stupid price. The choice is really bad I found. @M_Chavez stated simply sanding the 0.2mm of a normal stem should be easy enough. Our chief engineer @Mickeyspinn stated it is more difficult than it sounds to make something perfectly round by hand.

I've done this type of sanding before on a seat-post - 27.2mm down to 27.0mm and do remember it is a mind numbing task where you regret even starting. This morning I did a little test on an old normal stem to shave off 0.2mm by hand as best as I could. I'm very happy with the result. First was to put a stop point above the min insertion point. One sheet of 80 grit paper cut up in strips. Working dry with no water or oil. About 40 mins later of sanding and trying, it started to go in and I could clearly see scratch marks where it wasn't round. Another 20 mins later working much more slowly and constantly checking and removing the scratch marks got it to enter very snuggly all the way. Finished it off with 600 grit to just skim of any fine lumps. Works a treat. Recommend you use a slanted edge type wedge rather than the conical type.

View attachment 666828

I've now polished the remaining part of the stem with fine wire wool and it looks a good un :)
Click to expand...
Look at you with your little collar...man's a pro!
I have a stem here ....25.4.....22.....😆 could of been yours!
Looks remarkably like yours except it's a wedge and slot type.
 
Doner bike #1

A trip to the charity shop yesterday with a mission in mind to edge this build forward resulted in this.

Not easy to date, but guessing a late 60s early 70s Gitane ladies bike. Very very low miles, all parts in great condition, barely worn in, was stored in the dry for the most part. Inspecter Clouseau tells me it was unloved because of a puncture.

Spent the most of the day stripping it senseless. In fact the only thing I've not kept is the saddle, a bit of twin top-tube, down-tube and head-tube. Part of me says it's a shame, but part of me says it will be put to purpose and used but not as intended.

1664650752462.png

The highlights: Bought primarily for the Mafac centre pulls and Mafac levers. Headset and bottom bracket (those essential moving parts) are in superb condition. 5 speed freewheel on large flange hubs ( 🤗 )so I can test the Simplex rear mech contraption properly. All hub widths exactly and precisely like the La Gazelle - they slot in like a dream. Forks and rear triangle will be used to make a custom French vintage wheel truing jig.

The low lights: I so wanted the seat-post to be 26.2mm but it's 25mm which confirms it was made of gas / central heating piping. Was disappointed to find a dent in the rear rim. Rims are chromed steel which I hate so will keep my eyes open for other wheels / rims. The cranks are steel cotterless JIS Sugino, but in 165mm short-arse length - also even with a blow torch I couldn't remove the Lyotard drive side pedal - still I may have a use for them. Porteur bars are steel and no wider than a drop bar. The Mafac brake set-up does not include the seat bolt cable hanger.

Still happy with it, since it edges me towards getting the La Gazelle working. 😁 Just look at the bulbous end on that !

1664650810356.png
 
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The ladies Pryma saddle now donated to a mate in the village who tinkers with old Solex and Motebecane two-stroke vintage mopeds. As a matter of course, when you wrench on these type of things it needs to be 100% French and a French made saddle is a welcome since they have all gone the way of the dodo. I got to two beers for it :D
 
When 5 becomes 3 .....

Had a bit of time today to fiddle with the Simplex rear mech contraption. A French hub with a French Maillard 5 speed freewheel popped into the La Gazelle, the chain and contraption dripping in WD40 could have been so beautiful if it all worked. But it doesn't. I've said this before, never listen to @Mickeyspinn , and then when it goes tits up you have to listen to him. He sent me some reading material to study Simplex TdF which is great, and early on here suggested I rebuild it before trying it.

I get 3 decent shifts, and two half-arsed shifts at each end of the freewheel. It all looks wrong. The top jockey wheel as a lot of slop and the cage appears dangerously close to the spokes. Plus there isn't enough tension, the chain droops on the small chainring and smaller sprockets. The gap between the small sprocket and drop-out is big enough to get two London buses through it. Of course, I don't have that particular type of Maillard freewheel remover (24 spline) either to put a spacer behind it if needs be.

1665160512220.png 1665160534974.png


This is going to be involved, fiddly and time consuming - I'm convinced it is set-up for a 4 speed freewheel, but it should be able to do 5 speed. There is plenty of lever throw available. Wondering if it's Simplexy best Nurse Ratched gives me an electric lobotomy to get it all over and done with.
 
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