French Racing Bicycles
- Thread starter Canuk
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Canuk
Old School Grand Master
Another little known fact about buying/selling French bicycles at markets or 'vide greniers', of you see a bike you like, buy it immediately!
There's an unwritten rule for market trading: first come first served, for instance if you take an interest in a bike, but don't talk to the seller first and saunter around the stalls and then come back and see someone else drooling over it, it's too late already! Once there's a conversation struck up and a potential sale, you'll be politely encouraged to move on.
You could offer (as I've done to my embarrassment) double what the seller is asking, and they'll not sell. Under any circumstances! If they suspect you're not french (your accent WILL give you away) there will probably be swearing involved. Even if the other guy haggles, the 'deal is the deal ', and that's it period. Good thing to know
There's an unwritten rule for market trading: first come first served, for instance if you take an interest in a bike, but don't talk to the seller first and saunter around the stalls and then come back and see someone else drooling over it, it's too late already! Once there's a conversation struck up and a potential sale, you'll be politely encouraged to move on.
You could offer (as I've done to my embarrassment) double what the seller is asking, and they'll not sell. Under any circumstances! If they suspect you're not french (your accent WILL give you away) there will probably be swearing involved. Even if the other guy haggles, the 'deal is the deal ', and that's it period. Good thing to know
Canuk
Old School Grand Master
Pivot 'Stern of Death' from the Urago.
Pivo made stems ranging from the 60’s through the mid-70’s. Some were made of cast aluminum some were forged aluminum. Some worked very well while others were dangerous junk. The most common failure point happened as a crack at the top of the expander split in the quill. The crack would continue around the quill until the stem broke off. And that was what one would call catastrophic failure.
Pivo made stems ranging from the 60’s through the mid-70’s. Some were made of cast aluminum some were forged aluminum. Some worked very well while others were dangerous junk. The most common failure point happened as a crack at the top of the expander split in the quill. The crack would continue around the quill until the stem broke off. And that was what one would call catastrophic failure.
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Canuk
Old School Grand Master
Urago was founded in Nice, France, by Dominique Urago with his 2 brothers, François, a bicycle track racer, and Joseph.
François was a ‘Stayer’ and I think it almost certain that it is his portrait on the head badges of Urago bicycles – it would be odd to have a picture of someone wearing a Stayer helmet otherwise.
Francois Urago and Head Badge
Urago supplied bikes to sponsored teams from 1935 through 1964 and t Cycling archives gives details of sponsored teams from 1946 through 1964.
According to Emile Arbes the business ceased trading in the 1980s
François was a ‘Stayer’ and I think it almost certain that it is his portrait on the head badges of Urago bicycles – it would be odd to have a picture of someone wearing a Stayer helmet otherwise.
Francois Urago and Head Badge
Urago supplied bikes to sponsored teams from 1935 through 1964 and t Cycling archives gives details of sponsored teams from 1946 through 1964.
According to Emile Arbes the business ceased trading in the 1980s
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