Fairly Mental French Bikes

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whenst chainstays groweth this short one cannot help but wonder as to how many usable gears may be offered by the drivetrain...


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whenst chainstays groweth this short one cannot help but wonder as to how many usable gears may be offered by the drivetrain...


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I think it might be tight, but if you look at where the virtual tube starts and ends, I don't think they are super short. I think mostly the design is for aesthetics!
 
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Well ahead of colnago then... And a lot better looking than the latest colnago carbon thingy, which is on the bad side of fugly.

Is the macarini frame french though? Also looks very colnago bi-tubo, and says made in Italy on the chainstay!
The Marcarini is indeed French, from a builder in Normandy. They're were well known for producing very elegant designs and copying things from brands they admired. Hard to find now, as their production was quite small. About a 1000 frames in all. Bernard Hinault and Greg Lemond were both customers.
 
Gianni Marcarini was indeed Italian, and splashed Italian flags and decals in all his bikes, but the shop was in Hennebont. An ex Pro, he only gave up the shop a few years ago at the age of 77, but still keeps a hand in producing top quality cycle clothing for amateurs and professional teams alike.
 
A Marcarini Prestige with gold plated lugs and gilco style shaped tubes.
 

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The bold Gianni himself, at 77 on the day he shut the shop.
 

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A Manufrance from 1955
 

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Modern 'grand tour' Terrill with hand made custom racks
 

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MBK with custom Nivacrom tubing drawn for them by Columbus. I just bought this for a hundred quid equivalent... 😋
 

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