The French Connection... Japanese style (French-a-sonic?)

[zeringer]

Hi all,

You know the story, you've just bought yet another bike you need about as much as another hole in the head. In this case the bike is a 1989 Custom Order Panasonic PICS frame with a full Dura Ace build. The odd part is that the name printed on the top tube is Philippe Lauraire. Now, I'm by no means a know-it-all when it comes to professional cyclists of the 1980's but that name just sounded so familiar to me. Ah ha! Turns out he rode with Stephen Roche on Team Fagor. That might be why the name looked familiar.

At any rate, I really have no idea if this bike was once in the hands of the French pro cyclist or if it just happened to belong to a guy with exactly the same name. Odd. Also odd is that the bike has more Panasonic decals than I've ever seen on any Panasonic model. Someone was sure proud of their flying alarm clock! ;-)

Does anyone happen to know of any potential ties of Mr. Lauraire to Panasonic? Just grasping for straws here trying to determine if it really was his and if so, how the heck did it wind up in southern California?

Here are a couple pics of the bike... will post more once it arrives and I get it cleaned up a bit.

 

[Elev12k]

Hi Darin

Nice bike and looks in quite good shape for its age. I would think the blue decals are special request or for exposure in racing. They don't match with the downtube decal, so this can't be standard spec. The decal on the non drive side seattube is the wrong way round I think.

Don't know of a tie between Panasonic and Lauraire.

Looks indeed look quite a lot like a PR-6000, but with internal routing and other fork. Would be interesting to learn whether it also uses the equal diameter tubing in front triangle (3x 28.6mm).

 

[zeringer]

I'll be sure to check the tube diameters once the bike arrives. I also suspected the extra decals could have been for extra exposure.

Good eyes noticing that the PICS label is indeed on the wrong side of the seat tube. I find that more than a little puzzling as well. With the Japanese' sense for detail I can't imagine that being done by accident.

In other news, I'm happy to say that the PR-6000 will debut very soon at long last. Life got a bit crazy there with work and wedding etc. etc. but it is back on the project table. The wheels will be built soon and from there it should be easy to complete. The PICS Team Custom won't be far behind either.

 

[Elev12k]

Okay, the PICS label too. I meant the 'Panasonic' decal. Looks at the frames under this link. Reads bottom-up.

 

[zeringer]

The bike just arrived today and does have a few odd characteristics. For starters, I don't believe I have ever seen internally routed shifter cables on a Panasonic before. Have you?

 

[Tel]

Can't help with identification but I can tell you that it is a lovely bike apart from maybe the white tyres and blue saddle.....

 

[zeringer]

Can't help with identification but I can tell you that it is a lovely bike apart from maybe the white tyres and blue saddle.....

You will be happy to hear that the tires and saddle won't be sticking around. I have already replaced the saddle with a NOS Rolls and I'm hunting for some suitable 700x23 gumwalls.