Another LeJeune question
 

First off, yes i did check the archives and can find only a bit.

Looking to purchase a LeJeune in a 60cm but it is built up as a single speed. Horizontal droputs, not track. Which is really, fine with me as I want to build up for rando-type rides. But as I know very little about LeJeune bikes in general I wanted to be armed with a little knowledge.

I attached some of the photos the seller took. With the steep headtube angle (just by judging by looks) and relatively little fork offset it looks like it'll be on the crit/twitchy handling side, and not good for long distance rides. Am I way off base here?

And if you have any directions you can point me it, that would be mighty fine. Thanks.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7533984@N03/2632141545/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7533984...n/photostream/

While it is questionable to determine head angles with a bike not level to the world and not shot in side view from far away with a telephoto... it is a later bike late 70's more likely early 80's and does not appear too steep in head angle.

Having ridden a track bike on the street decades ago, when I was young and invincible, and without auto to transport said track bike to the velodrome,,, avoid the trauma unit, buy a brake or two.

This is not really a Lejeune question but more of a question of frame geometry. Looking at the fork, it does appear to be on the aggressive side. But that can be the photo. Very difficult to determine head angle from these photos. Photos shot directly from the side in the same plane would be more definitive.

OK, I certainly wasn't too clear. Are there desireable models and some less-than-stellar models in the LeJeune line? Ideas if the frame has much value? I'm just trying to find out what this is _typically_ worth, or if this is a decent mdel, before I go check out the bike. if it does not have much of a demand, does it still ride OK? Would it make a decent rando/audax bike? Worth throwing some money at to make a decent rider out of? I guess that is really what I am after.

Thaks again for the time and input. I do appreciate it.

I cannot tell form the photos the product level of the bike, but it does seem to have forged rear dropouts, so at least mid food chain.

My LeJeune is my favorite riding bike, the Confente gets the applause, and it also is great, but maybe just more miles and smiles on the LeJeune to date.

There are top of the line Lejeunes all the way down to basic boom bikes. Ask the seller for more info and better photos. I don't see any tubing sticker, as the photos are not very large or clear. What I can see of the fork crown seems nicely finished. The chrome forks don't really tell us anything as a lot of lower end bikes got those. Ask him to measure the wheel base. Ask what kind of dropouts front and rear. If they are Campagnolo then you definitely have a nice frame. Based on the color and the markings, I am thinking this is a late 70s to 80s frame. It could well be Vitus.

Now based solely on the pictures, I don't know that this is the frame you are seeking. You indicate a desire for a rando/audax frame. That does appear to be a rather aggressive fork. You can extend the wheelbase by sliding your wheel all the way back, but the ride with that fork is not going to be very cushy. I think a fork with more offset would serve you better. Will it make a great rider...undoubtedly. But not necessarily for your purposes.

I see. OK, thank you very much. I am hoping to take a look at it today or tomorrow so I will now have a few things to look for. With that fork I was of the same inclination - a bit aggressive for long rides. I am also looking for a frame to slap my parts on to try 'cross racing on but not sure I would want to subject this frame to that sort of abuse.

Less fork offset = more trail = less twitchy (taking head tube angle out of the equation). Of course, head tube angle means a lot in terms of how much trail is possible before fork offset comes into play.

Doesn't look like a long-distance frame to me. But it might be great; it's so rider-subjective. If you like the bike and it fits, acquire it!

After looking at it,I pulled the trigger and bought it. It's a LeJeune Champagne. The tubing sticker appears to have rubbed off but the droputs are stamped "3190" and the cable guide under the bottom backet is stamped "Vitus" with a few more things that I don't recall offhand.

It fits well and it pretty light. Mainly I acquired it for the wheelset and crank (Those alone are worth what I paid fr it), figuring if anything, I could sell the parts and come out ahead. However, with the crank, the guy I bought it off of said he used two left-side bearing cups. And the bcd isn't what I would prefer to use (I think) so I will probably leave it a single speed for now and use it as a "cross" bike unless the frame has more value to it than that. What the heck.

Thanks again for the input, gentlemen. I think this bike and I will have some fun.