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

[Woz]

I thought it quite poetic.

- Bicycle journalism extraordinaire.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

You must be pleased with the result?

 

[Woz]

You must be pleased with the result?

Yeah. Chuffed.

There's something pleasing just looking at the lines, curves and tiny details. Mechanically it is sound; all greased and oiled runs smooth.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Yeah. Chuffed.

There's something pleasing just looking at the lines, curves and tiny details. Mechanically it is sound; all greased and oiled runs smooth.

What are your first impressions?

 

[Woz]

What are your first impressions?

On the first mock up without a deep clean, Porteur bars and steel rims, it felt clunky, cramped but promising.

I've done a couple of short shakedown / fettling rides and it's night and day. Smooth, felt fairly solid under the pedal, positive gear changes. Saddle is surprising immediately comfortable. The most negative immediate aspect is a flexy front end; mainly due to the quill stem / steering column interface, steel bars and long fork rake. The lower, angled bars with more reach is much much better for me. Turning circle is good. It does allow for some off the saddle riding but really it just wants to go at a nice pace firmly seated; nothing too brisk really. I forgot just how good Mafac centre pulls were, and they will get better as they wear with the rim profile so they do give some confidence on descents or if I find myself in traffic .

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Centre pulls generally are a powerful brake. I prefer them to side pulls.

 

[bagpuss]

Love it. Classic rebuild
Would you like some Simplex q/r spindles and levers?

 

[bagpuss]

Yours for the cost of postage

 

[Woz]

Love it. Classic rebuild
Would you like some Simplex q/r spindles and levers?

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

 

[bagpuss]

Got a simplex seat post