trashion

Sold my Specialized Allez Triple today for $700 (I need ONE bike that can be zippy but can also sport fenders and not be so touchy to getting roughly handled now and then) and I spent $500 on a Frejus "Mod. Tour de France." Not sure on the exact year, it was a very personal bike to the shop's owner, and he says he's had it since he opened the shop ('59.) Buying it was a great experience, it was nice to be trusted with his favorite bike in the place. But that's another story.

Bike is a little scratched up, dark blue with off-white and silver details, all joints are "crowned" (not really sure what it's called) Most components are some form of Campagnolo, including cranks, chainring, headset, shifters, derailleurs, hubs/skewers. Wheels are Araya, handlebars and stem are TTT. Brakes are Universal Mod. 61. MADE IN ITALY is stamped on one side of the stem, GRAN PRIX on the other. Not sure on frame material, but it feels quite light. Serial # is 1105F.

Bike originally came with fenders, I'm waiting for the owner to dig them out of the back to put on there.

So, can you guys tell me anything about it? I really dig the way this bike rides!

trashion

Pics continued...

plodderslusk

Wow, great bike.

dbakl

From what I can see somethings have been changed. Rims certainly not original, Campagnolo script QR much later, as is Nouvo Record rear. Universal brakes supossedly 1961 introduction. The hub cones may give good date. Crank looks like old style, which is late 50s, early 60s. If it was a bike that was used, parts may have been up graded over the years. Here's mine, early-mid 60s I'd guess:

rotharpunc

are you a dresden dolls fan?

USAZorro

That frame looks exceptional for being as old as I am.

Some day, I would like to own a Frejus. Not for some time yet though.

trashion

Yeah, I'm trying toclean up and buff the frame, maybe touch up some scratches. What's the best way to get this almost patina-like coat of light brown grime off without damaging the paint?

dbakl

I usually clean gently with mineral spirits, rub out the paint gently with rubbing compound, then wax the heck out of it.

trashion

What kind of scrubby can I use on it? A toothbrush was working well, but it's not practical to scrub the whole freaking bike with a toothbrush. Maybe a small, soft scrub brush?

retyred

Very nice find. You just acquired one of the bikes that is on my 'gotta have' list. Purchase price was reasonable. Can the original owner tell you more about the bike's component modifications? Does it have the original hubs? Finally,can you take some close ups of the cranks,hubs, headset,pedals and handlebars/stem? Your stem looks similar to the one on my 'mystery' Mondia which I believe is circa 1965.

Tigerprawn

Beautiful bike, that headtube is quite nice

trashion

retyred: Thank you! He wasn't able to tell me much about it, unfortunately, but I'll be headed back to the shop on Tuesday to pick up the original fenders. I'll take some photos of everything you asked for later, except the pedals, which are cheapo plastic ones I got for free when I bought the bike.

trashion

I should probably also plug the shop I got it from, Frank's Bikes on the Lower East Side in Manhattan. Extremely crowded, hot, and hard to navigate amid the dozens and dozens of used and new bikes, but that's what a LBS SHOULD be like, am I right?

mkeller234

About cleaning the paint... I would not use a brush or scrubbing pad at all. I would strip the frame down and wash it with automotive car wash and a cotton rag. Then use something like meguires scratch X to polish the paint, then a few layers of good quality car wax.

I assume the bearings and other bits could use an overhaul, or was that done recently?

trashion

Hmmm...do you think a shop would sell me a used bike as "ready to ride" if the bearings and other bits were not in good shape? Not being snarky at all, just saying that it's probably been done to it recently.

mkeller234

No, you are probably right. I didn't catch that in your post. In that case I would just go over it as good as you can, I think auto paint products are usually a very safe bet.

That is an awesome bike. What so you think of it compared to the Specialized you sold, I know that is apples to oranges but I am interested in your opinion.

trashion

To be honest, I don't know what it is, but I'm finding that I vastly prefer a steel frame. Yeah, the aluminum/carbon fiber was nice, but I like feeling like I'm pedaling an actual vehicle. Does that make sense? I don't know, haha. I just like the sturdiness of it.

This bike's ride is a bit bumpier too, bu that's okay. THe main reason I sold the Allez and got this was because I wanted a bike for transit, not necessarily speed. So far I'm thoroughly enjoying it. It's my first bike with friction shifters too, which is different, but I enjoy the intuitivity required versus the preset indexes.

Only thing I miss is the triple chainring (I live on top of a massive hill)

mkeller234

Oh yeah, I know what you mean about the triple chainring. Your freewheel looks like it has fairly decent range though, do you know how many teeth?

Does your rear derailleur have the patent date on it, or is it like the one that one for over 700.00 on ebay? That would be pretty nice.

JunkYardBike

It's possible. They probably checked to see if they spun smoothly, and left them alone if so. Take your wheels off and spin the hub axles by hand. Smooth? A little gritty? Even if they are smooth, if it's old grease, it won't protect as well as fresh grease. Look under the bottom headset race, the bottom bracket shell, and the hub ends. Is there/was there black road grime? Or is/was fresh grease apparent? If the former, they probably weren't serviced.

retyred

Definitely check that RD. Finding a vintage bike with sought after components is a great high. Also check the cranks for the raised pedal lip.

phillyrider

Very nice bike...Based on serial number - late 60's is probably in range. FYI - serial # chart:
https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Ita...al_numbers.htm

I now have 3 Frejus frames - all from 1960's. One is maybe earlier. I would recommend leaving paint as is. Clear nail polish to seal - I used choreboy copper scrubbers, which are less inclined to scratch. The original components are particularly nice on yours.

For the 3 frames that I have - I run one with suntour superbe, am getting one built with suntour xc (triple - mainly from a donor tour bike), and am just starting the third one (slowly) with a crane/early dura ace set-up.

Enjoy the bike! I'm am obviously a fan...

Picchio Special

We (as in me and my private mechanic - full disclosure requires me to admit I'm bad with tools) debated pulling the BB on my late-60's Cinelli. The cranks spun nicely. We pulled them anyway, and sure enough, the BB was pitted. A new one is on its way. Pays to be sure, IMO.

trashion

Well, now I've done it. I went to adjust the front derailleur and ended up breaking off a limit screw inside it :x I'm in the process of dissassembling it to try and get it out. sigh.

mkeller234

Be very careful about getting that limit screw out of the clamp body. I would suggest taking a picture of it and starting another thread to get many suggestions on how to remove it.

That said, worst case scenario, it probably is one of the cheaper parts to replace. You can probably just buy a used clamp band and attach your original flat bladed derailleur body to it.

Definitely check that derailleur patent stamping, it may be worth more than you paid for the whole bike

trashion

I found a post on disassembling the front derailleur to get it out, so I did that. Scratched some parts a teeny bit, but nothing is damaged. Fortunately, enough of the screw is still sticking out that I can grab it with some needlenose pliers. Waiting on a friend to bring some over.