making it even more odd, the only sticker on the frame says: "J Ph Pipart" which may or may not be a bike shop ( I can't find a listing for one currently in NE France) but rather refers to Jean-Philippe Pipart an ex-professional racer on the La Redoubte team from the late 70s and early 80s.
http://www.siteducyclisme.net/coureu...coureurid=3895
Now I just have to find Monsieur Pipart and ask him how this bike came to be so.