chrisdinsdaler

Hi - I wonder if anyone can help with this bike that my wife has just acquired? It seems quite unusual in that it is a single top tube mixte and came from France to England a couple of years ago. The components on it are quite old, round about 1970s I think, although the hubs and possibly the frame might be older?

It has Huret 'Success' deraileur, Stronglight model 93? chainset, mafac 'racer' centre pull brakes, Pelissier front hub and mavic rim, Atom rear hub and Mavic rim, a Course Belri handlebar stem and a Henri Gauthier seat.
The frame is light and could well be Vitus 172 tubes as it weighs about the same as my Claud Butler Regent which has Reynolds 351 tubing and it has some quite nice lugs which might be Nervex? The curved lug on the top of the seat tube is quite nice, I think.
I can find no numbers on the frame and suspect that it has been refurbished and repainted at some point as I don't think Special Competition was a make as such. The stickers look rather generic to me. If any one has any clues they would be most appreciated. After much searching on the web the nearest I could get to it were a couple of Rene Herse machines and a Gaidou, both of which differed slightly in some details.







Sorry for the number of images but thought they might help with identification. The black paint makes it quite difficult to photograph.
Here is a link to photobucket with lots more pics https://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...psehqieua3.jpg go left to see the rest of the pics.
Thanks in anticipation.
Chris

juvela

Thanks for sharing your new arrival and welcome to the forum.

Mixtes of this pattern were produced by a number of French manufacturers.

One I can recall is Stella; not asserting this as an identification.

Judging by her fittings she looks to hail from the 1974-78 time.

Will look forward to reading what others more knowledgeable shall post.

3speedslow

Your wife did good, let her go hunting more offer !

Looks to be from the 70's but no other manufacturer's name to throw out with any degree of certainty

Maybe Claude Butler ? Single top tube splitting into two past the seat tube has me pledged. Only seen that on a Schwinn and I know that ain't it.

Still quite nice whatever it turns out to be.

Grand Bois

A single top tube splitting in two past the seat tube is not that unusual.

Did you mean to say Reynolds 531 tubing? That is unusual for a mixte.

CliffordK

Check out this thread.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...l#post18050935

In post #12 , I listed a couple of manufacturers that used that style of frame.

Part of your ID will depend on whether the bike has French sizes for the seat tube, fork, and bottom bracket.

chrisdinsdaler

Hello Grand Bois, no I was just comparing the weight of the mixte with my 351 tubed Claud Butler. The mixte has a Vitus 172 sticker on it which is supposed to be comparable to 351 and the bike seems as light as the CB. I was just mentioning that as I'm not sure the stickers on it are original as I've not come across a make called Special Competition and wondered if the sticker referred to 'real' Vitus 172 tubing in the frame or was just for show.
3speedslow, thanks. I've seen the Schwinns - they are nice bikes. If anyone knows of any more makes with this frame configuration I'd love to know. I know the Motobecanes had a top tube that split in two half way down but I don't think they actually met the seat stem tube, just passed to either side.
Thanks
Chris

LeicaLad 

Well, it is pretty obviously French, so you may presume French threads in the headset and bottom bracket. That seat post bolt also screams French. I also agree that this single-to-split top tube mixte is not THAT unusual among French builders at the time. Dating to mid-70s, although possibly earlier, also seems correct. Nice spread on the chain rings, is that a 38t inner? I am a fan of the Stronglight 93. That model of the Huret FD is also my favorite. The odd detail in my eyes are the rear dropouts. From the one photo, it appears they are stamped rather than forged. Nothing wrong with that, but it might suggest the frame is a bit older -- or that the French builder was old school and felt these were fine for the intended use.

Norris L is the man to ask, but he is off on travel and does only rare notes while away. In the meantime, I'd love to hear what others think, too.

It is a lovely bike and I agree that you should empower your wife to buy more bikes that catch her fancy. She has a good eye! Congrats.

Oh. And Welcome, too.

chrisdinsdaler

Thanks CliffordK. I've just measured the seat tube and it is 28mm which I think means it is French. I was aware of the Herse and Gaidou bikes but not the Goeland ones - I shall have a look. The Herse and Gaidou bikes seem quite similar except that the twin tubes have a lug to attach directly to the seat tube on the Herse bike and also the slightly different fork crown and one or two other things. I see you mentioned Alex Singer as well. I suppose as many small makers varied their construction methods and parts over the years it might be quite difficult to identify a frame easily. Where would frame numbers and makers marks most likely be on a French bike of this period?

chrisdinsdaler

Thanks LeicaLad - yes, I think the dropouts are stamped. I can't see any numbers on them.
The paint is very thick enamel type stuff and there seems to be an undercoating in white. The black paint is nicely done and someone has lined the lugs in gold.
The inner chain ring seems to have 40 teeth on it.
I'll look forward to hearing from Norris L in due course and thanks for your input, too. It's great to get all these responses so quickly.

Grand Bois

Like I said, did you mean Reynolds 531?

chrisdinsdaler

Hi Grand Bois - yes, of course!! Sorry, I got the 3 and 5 the wrong way round!! Only just realised looking back at my posts. Reynolds 531 Vitus 172 - makes my head spin!

Grand Bois

I've never heard of 351, but one never knows.

jpaschall

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...one-while.html

The bike in that thread has a similar "special competition" decal. Don't know if that is just a generic decal for French bikes of the time or not. Could be a clue.

chrisdinsdaler

Thanks so much for that - there do seem to be some similarities between the lugs although the red bike has nicer dropouts and detailing and is possibly later? And I also note that someone says in the thread that their bike, too, has the same decals. Very interesting. Our bike came from the Bergerac region in the south of France so not too far away from the red one.

non-fixie 

Wow, that is a serious machine! I love it. Congrats on that find. Looking forward to more pictures.

chrisdinsdaler

Thanks, non-fixie. We are putting some replacement tubular tyres on as well as some mudguards and possibly a more comfortable Brooks seat we have and then my wife will take it for a spin. I have bought some old clincher wheels as well if we want to swap to those later. Will post pics as we go.