A J.Thirouad Randonneur, 1990s looking at the equipment. Some nice touches and a smart paintjob. Owners translation below.
One of my finds. A Thirouard 531 randonneuse.
Mixed equipment, Campagnolo Racing rear, Shimano 600 Tricolore front, Stronglight crankset.
Cherry on the cake is a superb Berthoud handlebar bag.
I rode the bike for around ten kilometres and was surprised by how comfortable it was to use, as I mainly ride race-oriented bikes.
A 1983 Bertin Randonneur in completely original condition. The nicest way to find a bicycle I think. Owners translation below.
A 1983 Bertin type C132 randonneuse 15km from home, I just can't pass it up.
Frame and fork in 0.8mm thick Durifort 888.
Spécialité TA triple crankset
Mavic module E type 3 rims
Huret grande chape rear derailleur
Milrèmo hubs
3TTT stem and handlebars.
Everything works, even the lighting.
Two new tyres, lubrication and adjustment and it will be back in service.
Another fine original Hugonnier Routens, including a very useful date guide for the front derailleurs. Daniel Rebours 1948 illustration shows a different form of bottom bracket reinforcement, so well into the HR period. Owners translation below.
I present to you a very fine example of the legendary couple's randonneuse.
A typical 1947/1948 HR in perfect condition! And in a hitherto unseen blue, weighing in at 11kg 345grams
It came from Chambéry and was bought at the time from the local Routens dealer. Whose name was Betemps.
It needs cleaning to restore its lustre and a new handlebar. This HR657 is in perfect condition and won't need any restoration.
It's a beautiful machine indeed, and can serve as a benchmark for the period. The design corresponds in every respect to the catalogue published by Jean-paul Routens. However, it doesn't have a rear luggage rack. But it does have Stronglight cranks and the diamond-shaped chainrings.
One peculiarity on my model is the positioning of the rear light, which is very low. I've had a good look at it and it's the original position. This is strange because there is no luggage rack and therefore no luggage to carry on this tourer.
I know the history of this bike and it was the owner's son who gave it to me. His father was a fan of cycle touring and as you can see from the saddlebag, which is very damaged, there are a number of pins from very long outings. This bike has even been to Venice.
So it's possible to keep a bike for 75 years without much alteration, it's still possible to find such examples!
I want to reference as many HRs as possible because there are very few documents on the Hugonnier Routens association.
People say things, often the result of particularly wild speculation. The problem is that this is repeated ad infinitum on the net.
In short, the only credible information comes from the randonneuse who still exist. From 1946 to 1952, they evolved.
So it would be interesting to compare them and put them on file.
