Here's my beloved French go getter. Motobecane Jubillee Sport with Columbus tubing, inexternal lugs. First road bike I've ever owned as I bought it to make it my beater bike. Have had her since 2005. Bought from an older gentleman right outside of Boston for $55. Had time trial handlebars, old computer, old raggity seat, and downtube shifters. Changed the TT bars for regular drop bars, got used seat from ebay, put old used rear rack, added fenders and rode it for a while with downtube shifters.
Wanted a singlespeed so stripped the frame of it's components and made it into a single with the existing wheels and rear cassette, which are the dreaded Heliomatic. The rear cassette gave in about 3 months ago while riding in downtown Durham as it stripped itself while going uphill. Did not ride it for while as I was riding a replacement aluminum Trek roadie for a little while.
Missed her badly after about 3 months so had an idea to put the components back on instead this time with stem shifters & riser bar for comfort. Went to the Chapel Hill recyclery one Sunday and got my riser bar, replaced rear wheel with old Shimano wheel, and added the Suntour stem shifters. Bought new brake & shifter cables and went to work.
Got it back to daily commuter condition and loving it like the first day i ever rode. So smooth and love how it looks now. Been using it not only as work/gym commuter, but also been using it for Saturday morning farmers market runs on the America Tobacco Trail with my fiance and her commuter (pics & story soon to come) and my dog tagging along with the Instep Bike trailer I just purchased. I need to replace the rear cassette as it has a couple bent cogs on the 5th cog but I am not using 5 and 6 until fixed.
FYI: I have had many bikes in between (steel and aluminum) to see if this one can be replaced and still have not found one that satisfies me like this Motobecane. The steel just feels so smooth and I love the geometry of it. I end just end up selling the ones I get and always keep my trusty French soulmate.
