Show me your Rochets!
05-10-16, 09:58 PM
#1
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Show me your Rochets!
New member @Midwest1 had never heard of Rochet before he found this gem:
I've got a frame, and recently all of the bits to build it up (I think):
@non-fixie has a complete Rochet, same vintage as mine and Midwest1's, there are a few others that have been posted. They're reasonably hard to find, possibly rare.
Post 'em if you've got 'em.
I've got a frame, and recently all of the bits to build it up (I think):
@non-fixie has a complete Rochet, same vintage as mine and Midwest1's, there are a few others that have been posted. They're reasonably hard to find, possibly rare.
Post 'em if you've got 'em.
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05-11-16, 03:16 PM
#2
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Rochet Super Special
I've already posted photos of this early 50s Super Special on the French Bikes thread, but thought I would add them here too. This bike has been assembled from collected parts, and obviously the frame has been restored. I've seen only one other frame with all the same details, and it was badged as a Geminiani. I suspect Rochet sourced their frames from a variety of builders over the years. The top level Rochets are certainly something special, and the some of the mixtes displayed real artistic flair.
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05-11-16, 03:17 PM
#3
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Bien sűr, monsieur Gugie!
No new pics alas, as it's been tucked away since these portraits were made, but here it is. As found. And as it sat in my living room for a year or so, so I could look at it. That alone was well worth the €20 I paid for it.
I strongly suspected the rear rack wasn't original, and Midwest1's bike shows clearly what the original looks like.
The rear derailleur is missing, but it's easy to see how it and its shifter were mounted.
Classic bi-color box lining and font:
The ubiquitous MAFAC brakes and guidonnets:
An my favorite part: the front rack. Mine differs slightly from Midwest1's in how the front lamp is positioned:
No new pics alas, as it's been tucked away since these portraits were made, but here it is. As found. And as it sat in my living room for a year or so, so I could look at it. That alone was well worth the €20 I paid for it.
I strongly suspected the rear rack wasn't original, and Midwest1's bike shows clearly what the original looks like.
The rear derailleur is missing, but it's easy to see how it and its shifter were mounted.
Classic bi-color box lining and font:
The ubiquitous MAFAC brakes and guidonnets:
An my favorite part: the front rack. Mine differs slightly from Midwest1's in how the front lamp is positioned:
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05-11-16, 08:04 PM
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Those bikes all have such a class to them.
Great!
Great!
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05-11-16, 09:09 PM
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Since this is the Rochet page, could anybody supply some history of the company? How big were they? Were they heavily involved in racing or did they do more urban/sport bikes (or both)?
05-12-16, 03:59 AM
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I've already posted photos of this early 50s Super Special on the French Bikes thread, but thought I would add them here too. This bike has been assembled from collected parts, and obviously the frame has been restored. I've seen only one other frame with all the same details, and it was badged as a Geminiani. I suspect Rochet sourced their frames from a variety of builders over the years. The top level Rochets are certainly something special, and the some of the mixtes displayed real artistic flair.
Are they wooden rims?
05-12-16, 05:27 AM
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These Rochets are so unique and beautiful and among all the beautiful bikes in this C&V Forum @Duke7777 yours is in my top 5.
05-12-16, 05:46 AM
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Great bikes in this thread. Glad to see it started!
How I wish that I had kept this "dump found" Rochet. I found it and an old Holdsworth at the local landfill site one day, years ago. The bicycle was in rough shape, to say the least, but a skilled builder could bring it back, in my opinion. Would it look as good as that super detailed one shared in this thread - probably not. Any my long gone Rochet...
How I wish that I had kept this "dump found" Rochet. I found it and an old Holdsworth at the local landfill site one day, years ago. The bicycle was in rough shape, to say the least, but a skilled builder could bring it back, in my opinion. Would it look as good as that super detailed one shared in this thread - probably not. Any my long gone Rochet...
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Last edited by randyjawa; 05-12-16 at 05:52 AM.
05-12-16, 06:19 AM
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Wow !
i've already posted photos of this early 50s super special on the french bikes thread, but thought i would add them here too. This bike has been assembled from collected parts, and obviously the frame has been restored. I've seen only one other frame with all the same details, and it was badged as a geminiani. I suspect rochet sourced their frames from a variety of builders over the years. The top level rochets are certainly something special, and the some of the mixtes displayed real artistic flair.
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05-12-16, 06:21 AM
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Great bikes in this thread. Glad to see it started!
How I wish that I had kept this "dump found" Rochet. I found it and an old Holdsworth at the local landfill site one day, years ago. The bicycle was in rough shape, to say the least, but a skilled builder could bring it back, in my opinion. Would it look as good as that super detailed one shared in this thread - probably not. Any my long gone Rochet...
How I wish that I had kept this "dump found" Rochet. I found it and an old Holdsworth at the local landfill site one day, years ago. The bicycle was in rough shape, to say the least, but a skilled builder could bring it back, in my opinion. Would it look as good as that super detailed one shared in this thread - probably not. Any my long gone Rochet...
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08-10-23, 07:50 AM
#11
JHD
1950s Rochet Touring model
Recent acquisition. Relatively complete.
Someone swapped out the crankset and it's missing the rear cibie light cover.
Looking for proper bottom bracket and crankset. The light cover too.
Decent condition for a 70 year old bike.
Decal has 1953...1954 dates.
Someone swapped out the crankset and it's missing the rear cibie light cover.
Looking for proper bottom bracket and crankset. The light cover too.
Decent condition for a 70 year old bike.
Decal has 1953...1954 dates.
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08-10-23, 10:50 AM
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Nice find, hzqw2l ! Thanks for posting it.
Looks very familiar, too. Yet the differences with my bike are interesting. Are those 700C wheels?
Looks very familiar, too. Yet the differences with my bike are interesting. Are those 700C wheels?
08-10-23, 10:57 AM
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neither of the cycle's round things original; one hub Alfa and one hub Gnutti
note Schrader valve stems
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neither of the cycle's round things original; one hub Alfa and one hub Gnutti
note Schrader valve stems
-----
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08-10-23, 11:31 AM
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neat, is is just me or should there be a Rochet Rocket out there somewhere
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08-10-23, 12:57 PM
#15
JHD
Nice find, hzqw2l ! Thanks for posting it.
Looks very familiar, too. Yet the differences with my bike are interesting. Are those 700C wheels?
Looks very familiar, too. Yet the differences with my bike are interesting. Are those 700C wheels?
They're 650b rims. Era correct but not original to the bike.
Front hub is gnutti and rear is alfa. Looks like a remnant of an oval label on the rear rim... possibly super champion?
08-10-23, 01:18 PM
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snip . . .
I've got a frame, and recently all of the bits to build it up (I think):
@non-fixie has a complete Rochet, same vintage as mine and Midwest1's, there are a few others that have been posted. They're reasonably hard to find, possibly rare.
Post 'em if you've got 'em.
I've got a frame, and recently all of the bits to build it up (I think):
@non-fixie has a complete Rochet, same vintage as mine and Midwest1's, there are a few others that have been posted. They're reasonably hard to find, possibly rare.
Post 'em if you've got 'em.
08-10-23, 07:36 PM
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A Rochet sold here, FS: 1956 Rochet Champion du France 60cm frameset, sn 666777
beech333 has the bike
beech333 has the bike
02-18-24, 11:20 AM
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Zombie's thread resurrection - Someone please talk me out of this. Otherwise, ill be making a 300 miles round trip to pick it up 1..5 weeks after shoulder surgery. The crank is the only thing that not appealing to me but it may be original.
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02-18-24, 04:38 PM
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Make it so. 
02-18-24, 05:10 PM
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Well thanks for the thread bump, I did not see it first two times around. These are really cool bikes and I would say go for it! Make sure you have this song on repeat on the drive there:
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02-18-24, 05:36 PM
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just you wait!
chainset appears to be the Verot Competition Nr. 53, not swaged, forged -
bottom bracket assembly appears to the Verot Competition Nr. 34, highest quality, finely rectified races, HOLLOW SPINDLE -
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02-18-24, 09:49 PM
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Very sexy!
Love it!
02-19-24, 03:37 AM
#24
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Hadn't heard of Rochet so did some googling, turns out there's a lot of historic posters and some head badges on Ebay.
There's also this in France: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145606698250
Might be worth saving the images for comparison.
There's also this in France: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145606698250
Might be worth saving the images for comparison.
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02-24-24, 09:52 AM
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Went and picked up the RRO SHEH yesterday with my kids at a vineyard in Santa Ynez, CA. Nice old French bike, my size to boot. Needs a lot of cleaning but it is a nice pick up i think. A few interesting bits, cool pedal, campy FD, Huret RD, mini Mafac racks, Simplex DT shifter, still not excited about the crankset. The rims have a raised middle section, no labels. Anyone knows the maker? thanks
P
Pick up location, beautiful vineyard where the bike stayed in the barn for over 60 years. My two boys and one tiny dog on a bike run.
Huret Luxe RD - crazy money asked for these on fleabay
Leather Toe strap cover - unfortunately the other side is missing
P
Pick up location, beautiful vineyard where the bike stayed in the barn for over 60 years. My two boys and one tiny dog on a bike run.
Huret Luxe RD - crazy money asked for these on fleabay
Leather Toe strap cover - unfortunately the other side is missing
Last edited by tmnguuyen; 02-24-24 at 11:36 AM.