French Racing Bicycles

[Canuk]

In 1984 Vitus brought to the cycling world the first ever carbon monocoque frame. Years before the competition.

 

[Canuk]

Specs:

Frame:
Vitus ZX-1

Fork/Headset:
Vitus ZX-1 integrated threaded needle bearing headset, bonded aluminium fork

Crankset/Bottom Bracket:
Campagnolo Record

Pedals:
Kyokuto Top Run pedals with Christophe toe clips

Derailleurs/Shifters:
Campagnolo Athena

Handlebars/Stem:
3TTT

Saddle/Seatpost:
Selle Italia Flite

Brakes:
Campagnolo Athena

Front Wheel/Hub/Tire:
Campagnolo Zonda 16 HPW, Michelin Dynamic Classic 25c

Rear Wheel/Hub/Tire:
Campagnolo Zonda 16 HPW, Michelin Dynamic Classic

 

[Canuk]

1936 Alcyon Course

 

[Canuk]

Alcyon racing bike from the 1930s. A magnificent bike today, but of it's era the top of the line road bike. Made famous by the big Tour riders Jean Aerts and Georges Speicher

Special features

Small chain "oiler" above the crankset
Simplex derailleur type World Champion 1936 (3 speeds)
Wheels with wooden rims
Double bottle cage on the handlebars
Gloria duralumin brakes
Ideale Leather saddle

 

[Canuk]

Close up details of the oiler etc

 

[Canuk]

1977 Peugeot PY10

 

[Canuk]

At the time, Cycles Peugeot equipped many amateur clubs and not the least (ACBB, Puteaux, etc. to name a few). These clubs won many successes each year, various championships, stage races, the most beautiful classics in France. The best riders from these clubs came to supply the Peugeot ESSO Michelin pro team.

A little nod to women's cycling, in 1977, the Burgundian Josiane Bost became world road champion in San Cristobal with a bike like this one.

Reynolds 531 frame and fork
Simplex SLJ 5500 rear derailleur
Simplex Super LJ front derailleur
Simplex retro-friction shifters
Mafac competition brakes with central pull
Maillard 36-spoke wheels
Atax Philippe handlebar and stem
Stronglight 105 bis bottom bracket and crankset (52 * 42 chainrings)
Stronglight headset
Simplex seatpost
Maillard 6-speed freewheel (13.14.15.16.17.1
Ideal 2002 saddle
Maillard 700 pedals

 

[Canuk]

Some close ups of the components. Note the famous Arc en Ciel rims

 

[Canuk]

1988 MBK Vincent Lavenu's time trial bike (Fagor-MBK team)

 

[Canuk]

The bike above belonged to Vincent Lavenu of the Fagor MBK team in 1988. The same year his team mate Sean Yates won the Liévin – Wasquehal time trial stage of the Tour de France with an identical bike (see photo).

Colombus SL frame and forks
Campagnolo C Record groupset
Ambrosio paracular rear wheel
650 front wheel
Cinelli handlebars and stem
Maillard 7-speed freewheel (12.13.14.15.16.17.1
53*42 chainrings
Rolls San Marco saddle
Time pedals