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Old 11-29-08, 12:05 AM
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oldbobcat
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Boulder County, CO
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Bikes: '80 Masi Gran Criterium, '12 Trek Madone, early '60s Frejus track

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Liberia was another French UO-8 grade campus bike. I don't know who imported them but as an undergraduate I remember seeing enough of them around. Did you lose your virginity on one or something like that? Aside from the paint, these bikes were pretty interchangeable. On the hand, a French bike in the right shade of blue, with Simplex Prestige shifters, Mafac Racer brakes, Pletscher rack, and a gear chart written with a Sharpie on a 3x5 laminated card that hangs from the handlebar might elicit a sigh.

Libertas was another French brand of that period, with a somewhat wider range of products. One of my neighbors' winter bikes is a 531 double-butted Libertas that he built up from dumpster parts. Crazy thing has hardly no fork rake, but it's still a pretty decent ride.
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