Indeed. Never change original setup.

​​​​​​​Awesome! Great times...

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Hello Lucas,

Was thinking of the Huret gear ensemble with respect to dating confirmation. The model 700 front mech launched in 1966 and its final year under that designation was 1974. (it continued on for many years but in revised forms and under differing designations). The pattern of thumb screw seen on the shift levers seems to end somewhere around 1970 - have never been able to determine a specific year. Interesting to see that they wear Rampinelli 341's rather than Huret 1851's. The Eco model 2490 rear mech launched later in 1976 so am thinking it a replacement. https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/Site/...leur_2490.html You may discover a date on the back side -



Some Weinmann bits are marked with date codes. If present, there will be a marking on the backside of the brake caliper arms. Levers sometimes receive a marking as well but it is necessary to disassemble them to read it.

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The ends of the bottom bracket spindle appear to be hollow, is the spindle hollow all the way through? When you repack the bottom bracket you will have an opportunity to examine the interiors of four frame tubes to see if they be seamed or seamless. As you polish the paint finish you can keep an eye out for any tubing marks.

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Marcel is coming right along - you have him looking much more handsome already!

Don't forget to lay some paint into the markings on the stem/bar set.

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Hello Lucas,

As am sure you know, the three candidates for plausible rear mech are Allvit, Luxe & Svelto. Unless you were to locate some print information or photo we may never learn which of the three it was. You may wish to fit whatever is easiest/on hand of these models.

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Hermesse chainset -

have some pictures of an earlier single plateau set and its attendant bottom bracket fittings. they are on an AS THOR, of Torhour Belgium, machine i suspect to hail from ~1954. loading and posting them seems to be a problem of unknown origin. will post if & when i get them sorted out...

hamfisted computer user here.

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Looking forward to your next update Lucas!

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Thanks for all this info, guys! Respect! I've been on vacation in France for 2 weeks and yes, have dobe quite some riding on my Gazelle Tour de l'Avenir. Updates on the Kint will be forthcoming.

Work in progress: some more pictures... Not perfect yet, but coming along nicely. The only 'modern' luxury I put on the bike is the Rolls saddle with nice 'leopard'/gold touches, which matches the gold lining on the blue Kint quite nicely, me thinks. Done the cabling, put on white handlebar tape and am looking around for whitewall tires 700x28c. Step by step.

And took her out today for the first time. Everything works flawlessly! And the ride is excellent. She's a grand old lady, very comfortable. Received quite some remarks while cruising along. People were amazed that a bike so old still functions fine. Well, quality...

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Great to read and see all the happy news Lucas!

You even tinted up some touchup paint for Marcel.

Aestheticae - if one stands back and looks at the whole machine one can see that the white tape and casing "washes out" the bike and yields a "worked on" look. White is fine but the full effect would look better if it were not so bright. Some hue of "off-white" and "antique white" would fit in better for the cycle as a whole. This would also contrast less with the ivory coloured Rampinelli 341's. Just me deux centimes ​​​​​​​

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Hermesse chainsets -

finally got the photos working from the AS THOR bicycle mentioned above.

















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Tip -

forgot to mention that someone hath fitted Marcel's shift lever clamp upside down.

his cycling nickname was "the black eagle", not "the black bat."


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Did you settle on a year of make?

My guess - 1970.

​​​​​​​Oh dear! I will ask Watson to correct it immediately! and what a wonderful pictures. Does the bike run OK?

I wish... It's hard to tell, but except for the front derailleur (replacement probably around 1975) my guess is 1968/69. No codes on brakes, rear derailleur or crank.

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Yes, owner (in U.S.) has completed his restoration and has made some fine adjustments to his needs.

Am thinking ~1954 for a date based on the cycle's Huret shift lever. It was likely a derailleur 3V or 4V ex-works; a previous owner has made it a 5V.

AS THOR located in Toutour, Belgique. Cycle made to metric standard, as one would expect from a Walloon enterprise.

Brakeset: Jolli sidepull. Original hubset: Gnutti small flange solid axle one-piece steel. Tubing: 3-tube 531DB.

Has integral rear rack with an interesting transfer:



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I thought that might be a Lucas "signature" restore move.

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Lucas -

As regards dating -

How were you able to determine that front mech is a replacement?

There is a good sized time gap between the launch of the Challenger rear mech and those shift lever wingnuts. I had assumed, as mentioned above, that rear mech is a replacement.

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The protector over the chain wheels looks very CPSC-ish to me. So I was thinking much later than the others; not 50's or 60's but early 70's. The other components seem to agree but many/most could have been replaced over time. Most components are at risk for replacement but the crank is usually the last to go. Replacing an old steel crank with a newer steel crank does not sound likely to me.

Those bars and stem are awesome!

May I be so bold as to suggest blue cotton bar tape? Velox makes a nice hue. Leave it out in the sun a couple of days and ride it with dirty hands a few times, and Bob's your uncle.

Liked the "Lucas signature" remark! Well. So many people with so many ideas and suggestions... I think I will just start enjoying the ride. Concerning dating: I'm just a well meaning amateur. In the coming time there will undoubtedly be people in the know who can tell me what and how. Looking forward to all the meetings and discussions along the road!

Those were the days...

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Now he's bringing Mary Hopkin into it!


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LOL. Be thankful I didn't mention Willie Nelson's 'On the road again' or Edith Piaf's 'Non, je ne regrette rien!'

Note the little wire deedle-dee-bobs to skim the tires clean.

Only on the De Luxe Edition...

What gets me is the hole in the jersey, and the newspaper wrapped spares hung toe-clip strapped to the seat rails. So BA.

Real men! Giving up was no option.