Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,520
Likes: 12
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Bikes: 1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo (frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame), 1974 Peugeot UO-8
Euro models, while not plentiful, are not uncommon. Even lower end models pop up. Remember that US and Canadian forces have been stationed in Europe since 1945 and bicycles at the post/base exchanges were often locally sourced not to mention higher end bikes at local bike shops. My wife's Peugeot PH18 mixte is one such French Peugeot. We bought it from a women who purchased it while in the US Air Force stationed in Europe in the 80's. Of course a French bike with an actual shop sticker is a little different since there haven't been many forces there since the 60's but there's still students, tourists, etc. I went to a bike swap meet in Boulder, CO a few years ago and an older couple rode up on a pair of very clean his and hers Peugeots that they had purchased while living in Paris in the mid-70's.
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1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo(frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame),
1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame),
1974 Peugeot UO-8, 1988 Panasonic PT-3500, 2002 Bianchi Veloce, 2004 Bianchi Pista