Vintage French randonneuer's and porteurs.

[Blackbike]

I love this thread and the opinions generated in response to it's content. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us and yesterdays ideas evolve into todays products.
What is lost is the artistry of design and fabrication generally by the builders themselves in a product that can last longer than a mans lifespan, this is remarkable. I love this thread (and others in the GIGFY series) for selfish reasons, these threads provide me with a reference of more than 100 years of bicycle design, artistry, and history that I use to construct my bikes.
The punchline is these threads make my bikes better.

Thank You All: Mike

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

I love this thread and the opinions generated in response to it's content. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us and yesterdays ideas evolve into todays products.
What is lost is the artistry of design and fabrication generally by the builders themselves in a product that can last longer than a mans lifespan, this is remarkable. I love this thread (and others in the GIGFY series) for selfish reasons, these threads provide me with a reference of more than 100 years of bicycle design, artistry, and history that I use to construct my bikes.
The punchline is these threads make my bikes better.

Thank You All: Mike

Thank you for your generous and kind words Mike.

 

[Imlach]

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[grantoury]

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What does the rest of it look like?

 

[Imlach]

What does the rest of it look like?

I've asked. It's taken by this fella, lovely analog works:

https://www.instagram.com/marcupson/

I can't find it there though, so we will see.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

A while back I posted a picture of a Rando cycles bicycle. I couldn't find anything out, but our resident historian Jan @grantoury did, the other day I found this.

 

[Fat Tire Trader]

I purchased this Urago about a month ago.




Unfortunately, one of the brake levers had been removed before I got the bike. Does anyone recognize the name on the clamp?






More photos can be seen here

https://fattiretrading.com/urago/

Thanks!
Chris

 

[Helmut Head]

His 'n' Hers....
- A couple of weeks ago we decided to head for the south of France to find some sunshine - as per usual I checked online to see if there was anything interesting for sale enroute and around the region we were visiting. I came across a 6 month old advert for 2 bikes - described as having "charme" - so a couple of emails and a few days later we're heading up a winding dusty track to an old farmhouse 30 miles from the Spanish border.
The seller had bought the farm several years ago and the bikes were in a barn covered with tarpaulin and were in pretty good shape - with some air in the old cracked tyres they rode surprisingly well - both were well greased and rode with no rattles!

I could see they were old and their condition - although with some surface rust - was on the whole excellent - after a small amount of haggling a deal was done at 60 Euros a piece (approx. £50 each). I slung them on the bike rack tout suite!

Made by Robert Tournier of Thiais (South Paris) in I think the early 50's. There are few details on the net, but came a across an advert from 1953.
The ladies mixte frame with early Simplex gearing and front suicide derailleur (which changes quite smoothly) is I think the better of the two (strike one for the missus!) - with the hand painted yellow lines it's a classy looking and useable bike. The only thing that lets them down are the sprung saddles which don't look original - so I might change them. By a stroke of luck they were both our exact sizes - I'm 6'2" the other half 5'0 - it must be some kind of Karma!

I'm not going too far with a restoration - strip them, a good clean and polish and I think we should be left with a nice patina - it will keep me busy over winter. I will post up my progress as we go.
Enjoy.....

 

[Woz]

@Helmut Head - superb. Superb. Everyone happy kind of deal. Both are lovely.

If I was in your position with what I know now, I would leave all intact, clean a section of chain, pop in a chain wear indicator to help get an idea of use. A meticulous dismantle and clean and freshen up may not be totally necessary. They look in great all original condition with the patina too.

These are both 50s machines to my knowledge.

 

[Canuk]

That Torpedo rear hub has had an incredible hard life. You feel like taking it out and shooting it, put it out it's misery!