French Racing Bicycles

[Canuk]

More photos

 

[Canuk]

Here are some cutaway drawings from the original 1935 patent documents

 

[Canuk]

If you've ever wondered what the French user to get such a high polish on these aluminium frames to go from this corroded white to brilliant aluminium it's this:

 

[Canuk]

From this

 

[Canuk]

To this!

 

[Canuk]

And they DO use wine corks to plug the fork tops!

 

[Canuk]

If you're interested in French artisan randonneurs (and who isn't!) this is a great resource, well used on other forums. Lots of bikes like this:

https://forum.tontonvelo.com/viewforum.php?f=60

 

[27motorhead]

More images. This is my 'around town' dream bike, about 95% complete Twin headlights maybe ..

That's stunning. Is this your machine @Canuk ?

 

[Canuk]

That's stunning. Is this your machine @Canuk ?

I wish! Though I do have two MecaDural bikes of my own, but neither of them are up to this amazing finishing detail.

I know the owner though, a nice bloke from Le Mans. You see him at the bike meets regularly. He's got or had something to do with the French AG2R professional team (I'm thinking of buying one of his Duravia bikes). He's selling up a lot of bikes.

Unfortunately the same in France has happened in the UK, a bike than was previously selling all day long for 1500 now struggles at 750...

He doesn't speak any English at all, and he's said that most of his bikes are 'a debattre': open to offers. If anyone is interested I'm happy to act as translator/interlocutor. They really are lovely machines.

 

[Canuk]

Perle Mecadural with 3 (count em!) headlights, mounted on a specific Lefol front rack