cyclotoine

Okay I picked it up for my girlfriend and although it fits she can't comfortably stand over the TT, is it too big? but more importantly....

Spec... Carbonite high manganese frame with 26.0mm seatpost (52-54cm frame) says Meral on the downtube and text from top tube is totally illegable.

ITM seatpost
Stem yet to be determined as it is soaking with penetrating oil
Bar and lever gone
Nervar cranks 170mm
Lyotard pedals
Brakes say CLB on center nut and made in france elsewhere. the quick release is done by turning what should be a barrel adjuster into different position. appear to be made from "cheep" alluminum
Sachs hurret steel front and rear derailleurs with "cheep" alluminum shifter
wheels were missing, it had campy record hubs laced to tubulars, Wolber in the back, Mavic in the front. Lots of rust but the bearings still feel smooth and I will rebuild them.. any tips for cleaning the cones and nuts and the rust covered oil hole cover clips?
Any info would be appreciated.. are the drive train or brakes worth anything? because I don't intend to use it.. I will post some pics tonight if interest is shown in this thread. Thanks.

Max Busch

Some pics would really be helpful.
Seatpost diameter of 26.0mm is not uncommon for a French bike. Is the seat tube french or british sized?
Lyotard and CLB produced parts from entry level to highest level, so it is not possible to give advice.
BTW, what do you want to know at all?

cyclotoine

Awesome, I have been extremely busy but will post picks tonight. I guess I really just wanted peoples' opinions of quality and value. I mean whether the drive train has any resale value or collectablity value. the cranks seem nice enough, I was wondering if they are worth anything. Again, I will get some pics up tonight of 1. derailleurs 2. brake calipers 3. frame, drop outs, tubing decal. You'll have to clarify "is the seat tube french or british sized" also i am wondering if the BB is french threaded and if it is what that means. Is it still clockwise = loosen on the drive and vice versa on the non-drive? the binder bolt is still ceased so I haven't had a chance to take apart the headset. I am wondering if there will be any funny stuff going on in there. I have to get liquid wrench. I have tried other cheaper penetrating oils but nothign works like liquid wrench I find. I have the bike inverted with vinegar in the stear tube right now. I'll see if that did anything tonight.

EDIT: on the RD you can change to position of the jockey wheel part (sorry I don't know proper terms) for 24 or 28 max tooth cog. I thought that was kinf of neat.

T-Mar

Most of the vintage French bicycles have slightly undersize tube diameters. Consequently, the tubes are not quite as rigid, but give a more comfortable ride, which many cyclist favor. In the case of the seat tube, the standard outsdide diamter is 28.6mm, while vintage French frames are typically 28mm in diameter.

All adjustable bottom bracket cups (non-drive side) are right hand threads. French and Italian fixed cups (drive side) are right handed, while ISO, English and Swiss are left handed. French manufacturers eventually migrated to Swiss or English threading, but the timelines varied, so it is often trial and error.

I have heard of these bicycles but don't remember seeing one. The high manganese frame sounds mid 1980s and on the cusp of entry and mid range, however we will know better once we see pics of the components. The Campy tubular wheels suggest an upgrade by a club racer, so that may corroborate a lower, mid-range model.

cyclotoine

The stem is not branded but says the diameter is 22 and there is also a 54 on it which I am guessing the stear tube is. here are some pics, drop outs are not branded either. I just realised a total frame shot would be good to but there isn't really any unique qualities to the frame...

Max Busch

I guess early / mid 1980s. Probably French dimensions and French threads (as with all Merals I have seen). 26mm in a 28mm tube gives 1mm thickness, hence more gaspipe then lightweight. I have never seen Camus tubes on other bikes then Meral, so it may be their own brand. Does anybody else know?
Parts seem to be entry level. Here in Germany, Merals normally were sold completely Shimano-equipped. So the parts may have choosen individually.
The Bike surely is not a collectors item but it is good for pleasant day for day ride. The French dimensions make replacements difficult, so ride and enjoy it.

luker

btw...the CLB brakes on the bike would pay for a lot of trouble if you wanted to sell 'em on eBay. You would be astonished, I think.

T-Mar

Sachs bought Huret in 1981 and started marketing under the Sachs-Huret name in 1983, so that's the earliest it would appear to be, which pretty much lines up with the introduction of manganese-molybdenum tubing. No indication of butting on label, so assume it's plain gauge tubing. Given the era, I must admit that the rear derailleur looks lower end than I was expecting.

cyclotoine

yeah the RD seems to be a POS, I will outfit it with some shimano or suntour mix, I have some Winpista bars to put on it.... The only thing I am worried about is whether the taper on the cranks is distinct or not. Am I safe putting 165,, suginos on that spindle I wonder and how will the chain line be affected.. Of course these are mostly question I have to answer by trial and error. Thanks for that Tid Bit luker, I just may ebay the calipers as I was thinking of putting on shimano's anyway.

luker

CLB's were renowned for their light weight. If original, the cables are probably aluminum (thus contributing to the crappy spongy feel), and should be included in the auction. The levers as well...clean 'em up really well, and like I said, you'll be amazed.

cyclotoine

sadly someone put a flat bar on this bike at some point in it's life.. The lever are history. That CLB calipers are very light though and they are cleaning up nicely... The cables are pretty spent. All frayed at the ends. they're original though, the cable housing is a red to match the bike..

luker

sorry to mislead...I meant the cable housings. aluminum cables would not be a good idea, I think. Check 'em with a magnet at the exposed end of the housing.

cyclotoine

yeah, that was stupid of me to think you meant the cable... anyway the housings are steel.

EDIT: the part that holds the blocks on the brakes is alloy as well.

cyclotoine

on closer inspection the barrel adjusters are there, incorporated into the quick release. also check out this action for the same calipers in white with levers. Damn I wish I had the levers.
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...2509%26fvi%3D1

luker

There are a bunch of CLB levers from dealers on eBay right now - dunno if any of 'em match, I didn't look.