Vintage French randonneuer's and porteurs.

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Fin.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

What a beauty
Motobecane velo de ville in outstanding condition.

 

[Filochard]

A beautiful and very original postwar Goglin randonneur, the seat post clamp appears to use a lock nut, I assume a collet in the seat tube. Further research is needed. Translation below.

Good evening everyone,
This is a special occasion, but the bike I am presenting to you is not mine and it is not a René André.
In my humble opinion, this bike proves that post-war manufacturers, even if they weren't well known, knew how to make very beautiful machines that had nothing to do with the war, and that they had a lot to offer,

On this bike, for example, it has Hellenic stays, which pre date Hetchins by a considerable margin.

(A note on Hellenic stays I was steered here by @Filochard Translation is "In France, there is a consensus in authorised circles that the 4-point rear with crossed seatstays was created around 1935 by André Reiss, the builder of Reyhand cycles. the idea was suggested to him by Etienne Bernadet, a rider on Reyhand machines and a friend of the builder. In July 1934, Louis Halotel filed a patent for an improved tandem with the following design below" GIGFY)

The seat clamp is unique, and the derailleurs are all Nivex, as are the frame's rear dropouts and the assembly of a freewheel that remains on the frame when the wheel is removed.
You'll be able to admire the harmony of the frame and the finesse of the craft, both from a technical point of view and in the choice of parts, this machine is a true work of art.
Apart from Narcisse or Daudon for the beauty of their frames, you are unlikely to see this type of finish on other brands.
As far as the technical choice is concerned, the influence of the Lyon school for the crossed stays is visible, but for the rest it makes you wonder if it wasn't Goglin who set the example for the others?
The dimensions are 63cm x 57cm and the owner is 1m 95cm tall.
The bike has been left in its original state, it's a garage bike, but it's still quite exceptional.

@Guinessisgoodforyou
the topic has already been covered in another thread:

Thread 'Fred Hellens elusive documentation - hellenic seatstays !'

Dec 22, 2015

On the other side of the channel, we are trying to document the triple triangle design !

for the couragous in French
http://veloretrocourse.proboards.com/th ... bans-crois

but the 1923 date - "advertised" by Sheldon does not seem to be able to be substantiated by documentation or any pic of a Fred Hellens actual bicycle :shock:

We have a french patent from Louis Halotel in 1934 ( not to speak about the curved seattube which must have been an inspiration for Herse tandem )




but nothing...

• bduc61
• Replies: 15
• Forum: Retro Classic Road

Here is a short film from 1923 where appears a bicycle probably built by Fred Hellens on the velodrome of Herne Hill which was located near his workshop:

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

@Guinessisgoodforyou
the topic has already been covered in another thread:

Thread 'Fred Hellens elusive documentation - hellenic seatstays !'

Dec 22, 2015

On the other side of the channel, we are trying to document the triple triangle design !

for the couragous in French
http://veloretrocourse.proboards.com/th ... bans-crois

but the 1923 date - "advertised" by Sheldon does not seem to be able to be substantiated by documentation or any pic of a Fred Hellens actual bicycle :shock:

We have a french patent from Louis Halotel in 1934 ( not to speak about the curved seattube which must have been an inspiration for Herse tandem )




but nothing...

• bduc61
• Replies: 15
• Forum: Retro Classic Road

Here is a short film from 1923 where appears a bicycle probably built by Fred Hellens on the velodrome of Herne Hill which was located near his workshop:

Thanks, that was easy

 

[grantoury]

View attachment 934114
Gitane with Demi-Lugs?
Ovalised down tube, toptube
Qu'est que c'est?

My neighbour bought a Batavus road bike a few weeks ago and when we were discussing it, I saw the sticker from the bike shop and it reminded me of the Gitane. So I made a pic and it looks like it is from the same shop in Zuidbroek, which is 20km from where we live. Interesting coincidence and I thought @Guinessisgoodforyou would forgive me for putting a Batavus on the French thread. The small shop is long gone, I remember buying some NOS stuff there when the owner had died and they were selling the inventory.