Greetings everyone,

I'm a relatively new member, I joined up a few months ago but have been quietly reading your threads on restorations and other vintage bikes. It's been a most informative few months, so thank you. In all that time I've also been hunting for a bike frame for my first restoration, and I'm very proud to say that I've finally found one! Not an easy task either since I'm based in the Philippines... but I was lucky enough to find a gentleman here who works in France and buys bicycles to resell back home.

So here she is... I think it's an Alain Michel frame, but I'm not knowledgable enough to really confirm it. All components seem good and are in perfect working order. The only real issues she has are a stuck seatpost, and the seatpost lugs, which look like someone was trying to force open to free the seatpost. Apart from that I think it's mostly aesthetic restoration that's needed.

But if you guys spot anything I haven't then please do let me know, so I can address it. This is the first restoration I am going to attempt and I really want to make sure I do as good a job as possible. I admit I'm a complete amature, but I'm hoping to learn what I need along the way.

Wish me luck!

Welcome and that looks like a sweet bike and a great first project. That opened seat lug is unfortunate, but likely fixable once you get that seat post out. My approach is to use a 50/50 mixture of automatic transmission fluid and acetone. Dribble some in there every day for a couple of days. Then, once you've taken off all the components, put the top of the post in a bench vise (with some cushioning if you're trying to save the post), and then move the frame itself to crack the post loose. It shouldn't take much force; if it does, dribble some more lubricant in there and wait another few days.

Nice looking rig, definitely has the best of France of the time. Great paint color, has a lot of the same parts as the 83 Peugeot super comp that is at the bottom of the heap in my garage, it has the natural French bent fork to it.

Thank you, nlerner, I'm really excited to get it going. And thank you for the advice, as that stuck post is the only thing keeping me from moving forward. I've already taken all the components off the frame, so if you or anyone else need more detailed photos of the parts then I can do so.

50/50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone. Got it.

That frame looks beautiful, you are probably right with the Michel, the panto seems to fit. I'm no french expert, but they will be along shortly. There is tons of info on how to free a stuck stem/seatpost etc on this forum. The transmission/acetone mixture is probably the easiest to do if you don't have access to traditional methods like I do in the US. One thing I would look into if the Chemical part doesn't work, is see if you can rent a slide hammer. The auto supply stores here in the US have them for rent. I don't know where you would find one in the Phillipines, but hopefully you can locate one.

Are you going to paint this frame? a good restoration decal source is Cyclemondo on ebay and Velocals. Cyclomondo has great prices and you can get just 1 or 2 decals. Velocals is a little more pricey but his decals are top notch.

If you are going to paint, are you thinking of powdercoating or a paint shop? White is tough to match ins some cases, you could probably touch up those areas with model paint or nail polish if you found a good match.

Keep us updated, we love to see build progress and keep taking detailed pictures. Good Job and Good Luck with that seat post!

This thing rules. Can’t wait to see it finished.

That's right, haha, it was love at first sight

I didn't even notice her in the back of the room initially, but once I got a closer look I just couldn't take my eyes off her. I just find her very elegant. The brand of component was new to me as well. Before then I'd never even heard of Spidel.

I've noticed spots of green in areas that are scratched, so that might have been her original colour.

Here is some more info on Spidel from velobase Those components are probably pretty rare considering they were made for a short period of time. Obviously just a rebranding, but still a cool find.

The Spidel is just some rebranding of Mafac, Mavic, and Simplex names into a single. I haven't used any but I've heard nothing negative about Spidel, other than being French.

I'll probably be going with the easiest methods as you said, because for one thing I barely have any tools. All I really have right now is an allen wrench set and a tool set I got free with a Newsweek subscription *cringe* For now that has sufficed to take the bike apart... except for the crank and BB. None of my tools seemed to help in that area so I'll probably have to take the bike down to my local bike shop to get it removed. I'll probably start collecting my own tools as well, although I hear a bike stand is a recommended first buy. In place of a bike stand I currently use a loyal friend who is willing to stand and hold my bike steady. Works nicely for now

I'm a little torn about painting the bike. Part of me wants to see it preserved as is, but the other half of me wants to make it mine... with my own custom look. Nothing crazy... just a colour change, probably to black and chrome. Although in that area I'm a little stuck as well, I can't make up my mind. I'm trying to figure out how best to make the lugs "pop". In the current paint they're pretty subdued... barely noticeable unless you're up close.

And as for decals, I haven't really found anything re: Alain Michel decals online. Most bikes he built were custom orders for athletes or bike shops as I understand it, and subsequently would bear the name of the athlete or shop in the decals. If you were referring to smaller decals, well... I have absolutely no idea what would be appropriate...

If you can spare it, EBay has some decent bike tool kits for around $35. I got myself a set last year and most of the tools have held up to my abuse. I'd say a good buy.
Judging by what seems to be French components, your crank puller will probably be a different size from most so you might have to bring that to your lbs.
Looking forward to the outcome of your bike!

What's ironic was, Mavic, that did not join in with the Spidel consortium, was pretty much the only company to survive till the present.....
But then, Mavic did not follow the same mantra of "only French" in their product lines, as they used re-branded components like Modolo and DiaCompe in their component groups (it was even rumored that some of their cranksets were produced by a Japanese company). Maybe that was one of the reasons they did survive......

Thanks for the tip. I had a look at ebay, but the price of shipping can almost double the price. I tried another website.. sort of a local ebay here and found a couple kits of varying prices. Would you mind taking a look and letting me know which would be a good starting purchase?

... okay, never mind, seems I can't post URLs yet.

These are the contents of the cheapest kit. Let me know if you think it'll be sufficient.

1x freewheel remover
1x bottom racket tool
1x chain rivet extractor
4x cone wrench
1x chain whip
1x multi-size spoke wrench
1x 8mm hex wrench
1x crank tarm remover
1x crank tool
1x open-end wrench 8/10mm
1x cross-head screwdriver
3x tyre lever
1x 7 in 1 multi tool: slottd screwdriver
1x cross-head screwdriver/hex key: 2,3,4,5,6mm
1x patch kit
1x grinder
2x valve insets
1x PVC box

MY "TEN SPEEDS" is a website designed to benefit people new to the interest of restoring vintage bicycles. Perhaps is will help you avoid making some of the more common mistakes that some of us make when restoring an old bicycle.

Big Green was my first attempt at restoration and I made just about every mistake that one could make. But I learned and now try to share what I did learn. Hope it is a help.

It really is quite beautiful. I love the paint, and even more so after seeing it in the closer shots. The head tube lugs are great too - I haven't seen those before. Hopefully the seat post isn't too hard to get free. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it!

Welcome! Nice bike, and a wonderful first project. Will be following your exploits.

One thing I noticed was that the shifter braze-ons seem to have been removed somewhat crudely at some point in time. Not a big problem, as you already have a clamp-on substitute, but I'd finish that job and move the clamp into that position. Maybe that'll help with the paint decision too ...

One example I have for you is how it was done with similar lugs on my Hartman. Might work even better with a darker color.

Cool bike! I remember Spidel as sort of a last gasp attempt to grab some of the market back from Campagnolo. Simplex/Stronglight/MAFAC I think, not Mavic. Maillard too? I don't recall. There was a certain amount of French pride involved I'm sure....

At any rate those parts are all quite good. The Spidel/Simplex shifters are arguably the best friction shifters ever made. They were certainly better than the last generation of Campy SR/NR friction shifters that used the nylon washer.

Considering that you live in a humid climate and that bike is already showing light rust, I would go for the repaint. Furthermore, after de-rusting the chrome I'd suggest clearing it with lacquer. Re-chroming would be ideal, but it's expensive. Some Framesaver or LPS3 or linseed oil or whatever inside the frame is also a good idea.

AFA the lug lining, this bike comes from an era when lug lining was seen as pretty old fashioned. I'm surprised it has as much as it does. The subtle color difference between paint and lining is nice IMO, but it's your bike. I'm sure a more striking contrast would be nice too.

Oh shoot. Just noticed you're in the PI. Lots of bike shops there! If you need a recommendation, I have a friend that owns a a shop in Alabang. Not sure what services he does though.

Try to avoid powdercoating the frame if you plan on doing a complete re-finish.
Bike is top of the line grade and it will be a shame if powdercoating will diminish the edge details of those lugs and cutouts.....
Tip:
Check the front Super LJ derailleur closely for any cracking at the aluminum clamp band hinges and derailleur body. It's a top model, all metal Simplex FD, but I noticed that it is prone to cracking damage due to overtightening of the clamp by some owners. There is a rectangular slot at the bottom of the clamp body where cracking could usually start at the corners. Important to check its condition as replacement will cost a lot of money. The rear derailleur is pretty much bulletproof, as long as spring tension is still OK and nobody messed up the upper pivot stop plate connection with the pivot bolt.
BTW, remember that the derailleur unbolts from the back of the dropout. Leave the plastic plugs on the pivot bolt alone as you do not use the allen bolt hole on the front to remove the derailleur from the dropout.

My Stronlight 106 cranksets with 9/16 pedal threads takes a standard puller. Not the same size as the older Stronglights.
The totally French component group could mean that the bike might have French threading. Definitely something to check.

Pics of the rear dropout really shows the top quality craftsmanship on the frameset.
A bit surprised though that the builder used Gipiemme dropouts on the bike. You'd think it would be Vitus or Simplex to keep the all French theme consistent......unless that's a re-branded Simplex DO?.....doesn't look like it....

Some thoughts about repainting it. It's a particularly nice color, and it may be what first attracted you to the bike. If it was me, I'd clean up the existing paint; I love the color. That pearlescent color may be a bit hard to match, but I bet you could find some fingernail polish that would work. Just lightly sand out the rust spots, then paint them. You could paint the lug lines, probably a nice darker gold which would match with that cream color.

For reference, another A. Michel bike was posted here a few years ago.
Alain Michel super vitus 971 (n+1)

Cool bike, cool Spidel group.

Welcome to the forum! Ask questions! Check out Randy's website- you'll learn and absorb a lot from him. The RJ The Bike Guy videos on YouTube are gold!!!