Need help identify Rochet Super Special road bike
11-05-17, 11:24 AM
#1
Cycling addiction
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Need help identify Rochet Super Special road bike, with matching color frame pump
Today I was super lucky and came across this on CL. It looks like late 60s or 70s. My first super vintage French road.
Brand is Rochet
Model super special
Tubing Reynolds
Component mafac, strong light, simplex dropout and drivetrain
Condition isn’t that bad and chrome is peeling
Brand is Rochet
Model super special
Tubing Reynolds
Component mafac, strong light, simplex dropout and drivetrain
Condition isn’t that bad and chrome is peeling
Last edited by Danbianchi881; 01-30-18 at 05:18 PM.
11-05-17, 12:25 PM
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Super Awesome Special!!!
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
11-05-17, 12:26 PM
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Very nice! If that Simplex Juy 61 rear derailleur is OEM it should be 1961, possibly 1962, as it was reportedly manufactured only for 1961. The LJ23 aluminum bodied front derailleur was 1958-1962, so that fits too. However, the Mafac Top-63 brakes came out in 1963, so the question becomes, which are original?
Last edited by T-Mar; 11-05-17 at 12:31 PM.
11-05-17, 02:41 PM
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Very nice, but the skewer that was pictured appeared to be newer. A few components may have been replaced over the years and that is only normal.
11-05-17, 03:02 PM
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Super cool! Subscribing NOW!
11-05-17, 05:03 PM
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Same thought.... I made a frowny face when I saw it.
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11-05-17, 05:07 PM
#13
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11-05-17, 05:09 PM
#14
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Very nice! If that Simplex Juy 61 rear derailleur is OEM it should be 1961, possibly 1962, as it was reportedly manufactured only for 1961. The LJ23 aluminum bodied front derailleur was 1958-1962, so that fits too. However, the Mafac Top-63 brakes came out in 1963, so the question becomes, which are original?
11-05-17, 05:17 PM
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Wow! Super special indeed. Amazing find.
11-05-17, 05:54 PM
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What do you consider a Campag QR skewer of ~1962 should look like?
Here is a page from manufacturer catalogue Nr. 14 of 1960:
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11-05-17, 06:43 PM
#17
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Looking at it again- yeah, that bike is super cool.
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
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11-05-17, 07:19 PM
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11-05-17, 08:52 PM
#19
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Here are three pages from the April 1961 issue of Gene Portuesi's "Cyclo-Pedia". Rochet was one of only three bike brands he advertised that year. The first page gives a bit of info on the Rochet brand, and the next two give details of the top two models advertised. Top of the line for Rochet that year was the "Ruban Bleu" (Blue Ribbon), with the "Champion de France" being the next geared model in the lineup. He also advertised a Pista, as well as some touring models and step-thrus. Rochet must have changed the model lineup for your model year. I'd never heard of the brand before seeing this cycling catalog.
The pages are in pdf form. You may need to download to a location on your computer in order to view them.
Issue4-pg-06.pdf
Issue4-pg-13.pdf
Issue4-pg-11.pdf
The pages are in pdf form. You may need to download to a location on your computer in order to view them.
Issue4-pg-06.pdf
Issue4-pg-13.pdf
Issue4-pg-11.pdf
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11-06-17, 05:50 AM
#20
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Here are three pages from the April 1961 issue of Gene Portuesi's "Cyclo-Pedia". Rochet was one of only three bike brands he advertised that year. The first page gives a bit of info on the Rochet brand, and the next two give details of the top two models advertised. Top of the line for Rochet that year was the "Ruban Bleu" (Blue Ribbon), with the "Champion de France" being the next geared model in the lineup. He also advertised a Pista, as well as some touring models and step-thrus. Rochet must have changed the model lineup for your model year. I'd never heard of the brand before seeing this cycling catalog.
The pages are in pdf form. You may need to download to a location on your computer in order to view them.
Attachment 587611
Attachment 587612
Attachment 587613
The pages are in pdf form. You may need to download to a location on your computer in order to view them.
Attachment 587611
Attachment 587612
Attachment 587613
Thank you very much for the cool page link, I’m going to print it and hang it with the bike
11-06-17, 07:29 AM
#21
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Checking all the boxes with this one - nice find!
11-06-17, 12:31 PM
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Because of your proximity to Gene Portuesi's shop in Detroit (6447 Michigan Ave), coupled with the apparently limited number of shops importing the Rochet brand, it's a safe bet that he sold your bicycle when new.
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Last edited by Hudson308; 11-06-17 at 01:59 PM.
11-06-17, 01:47 PM
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I stand corrected on the age of the skewer, but it still looks too clean compared to the rest of the bike. Maybe a period correct replacement or selective cleaning?
11-06-17, 02:33 PM
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-----
It is likely the plating.
Have found there to be no middle ground with Italian chrome plating.
On cheap bikes it is applied directly to the steel without the necessary intermediate steps of copper and nickel. This sort of plating barely makes it through the bicycle's showroom life prior to the commencement of peeling.
The other sort of plating is what we have on these Campag fittings.
Agree that it does appear shinier than balance of machine.
In looking at the photos many readers were likely a bit surprised by the presence of wired-on tyres. A machine of this calibre, application and time would certainly have left the works wearing tubular wheels. Not only are the wheels wired-ons but they have shcrader valve tubes. Noted that spokes are clenaer and newer appearing than balance of cycle. Also odd is that they are 14ga unbutted galvanized. If wheels built in europe for a cycle of this quality we would expect to see butted spokes of either chrome or inox. The spoke lacing pattern is three cross but unwoven. No professional would lace in this manner. Also note that most spokes have logos on the heads while quite a few are plain - a bit many to be replacements. Evidently the builder employed what was to hand... Suspect the Campag hubs may not be original to cycle. Shall be interesting to learn what date their axle locknuts exhibit.
Nothing amiss with your powers of discernment dweenk.
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It is likely the plating.
Have found there to be no middle ground with Italian chrome plating.
On cheap bikes it is applied directly to the steel without the necessary intermediate steps of copper and nickel. This sort of plating barely makes it through the bicycle's showroom life prior to the commencement of peeling.
The other sort of plating is what we have on these Campag fittings.
Agree that it does appear shinier than balance of machine.
In looking at the photos many readers were likely a bit surprised by the presence of wired-on tyres. A machine of this calibre, application and time would certainly have left the works wearing tubular wheels. Not only are the wheels wired-ons but they have shcrader valve tubes. Noted that spokes are clenaer and newer appearing than balance of cycle. Also odd is that they are 14ga unbutted galvanized. If wheels built in europe for a cycle of this quality we would expect to see butted spokes of either chrome or inox. The spoke lacing pattern is three cross but unwoven. No professional would lace in this manner. Also note that most spokes have logos on the heads while quite a few are plain - a bit many to be replacements. Evidently the builder employed what was to hand... Suspect the Campag hubs may not be original to cycle. Shall be interesting to learn what date their axle locknuts exhibit.
Nothing amiss with your powers of discernment dweenk.
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Last edited by juvela; 11-06-17 at 03:39 PM. Reason: addition
