Are French bikes junk?
#76
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#77
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A simple way to dispel the nonsensical OP in this thread is to refer to this thread, perhaps the finest thread in BF C&V history:
Alex Singer Cycles and culture
Alex Singer Cycles and culture
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#78
(rhymes with spook)
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#79
(rhymes with spook)
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#80
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NO!
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72 Line Seeker
83 Davidson Signature
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Peugeot PY10FC
84 Gitane Tour de France.
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7
86 ALAN Record Carbonio
86 Medici Aerodynamic (Project)
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89 Bottecchia Professional Chorus SL
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72 Line Seeker
83 Davidson Signature
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Peugeot PY10FC
84 Gitane Tour de France.
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7
86 ALAN Record Carbonio
86 Medici Aerodynamic (Project)
88 Pinarello Montello
89 Bottecchia Professional Chorus SL
95 Trek 5500 OCLV (Project)
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#81
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I haven't been here in months, but it's such a delight to see a troll thread turn into such a wonderful whimsy of trivia, great pictures, and delightfully ridiculous meme-worthy stuff that will never be memes, because only nerds like us understand it (probably while we're humming a Tom Lehrer tune too).
Here at C&V, I can be assured that both The Grand Tour and Being There will be cited as relevant commentary. I will definitely find some solace in this crazy world on that fact alone.
-Kurt
P.S.: Has someone mentioned the "junk" Simplex SLJ derailer?
Here at C&V, I can be assured that both The Grand Tour and Being There will be cited as relevant commentary. I will definitely find some solace in this crazy world on that fact alone.
-Kurt
P.S.: Has someone mentioned the "junk" Simplex SLJ derailer?
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I believe that if Simplex hadn't made the Delrin mistake, they'd still be in business along side Mavic and Stronglight. The SLJ stuff was really good. Of course, most any brand of derailleurs shifted better than Campy BITD.
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#84
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I never get tired of seeing Chombi1's most excellent Gitane... and Andy_K's Stella really deserves a special prize.
We haven't even started in on the food !
We haven't even started in on the food !
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Bon Appétit
robertj298
guess who win's the most??
https://www.kickassfacts.com/top-10-...-in-the-world/
#86
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I wouldn’t buy a boom era French bike or any era French car that doesn’t mean they’re junk though.
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the french bikes and cars i've had were all gifted to me. i wouldn't have bought them, either. however, should i run across a french boom bike in really fine shape, i'd buy it...depending on what it is and the asking price
#88
Full Member

credit: Giovanni Fancello/CNN
Stinky is one thing, disgustingly nasty is another. These have to be near the top for most disgusting:
Casu marzu (shown above) and its relatives, like marcello, salterella, etc
Milbenkase
Velveeta -- not sure this really counts: they call it a "pasteurized cheese product", not cheese. .It does have a superficial resemblance to cheese, though, and is unquestionably a "product", so there's that.
#89
(rhymes with spook)
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"weird" foods is definitely a culture thing. if i grew up on/around food like that, it would be different. as it is, i don't eat meat or dairy, anymore. i bypass a lot of that experience by default. even still, when i ate dairy i didn't go in for the terribly exotic stuff. brie....check. bleu cheese....double check. pate...check check check. i even made kefir for a while. i really like that. i'd strain it off and make a cheese out of it. tangy and gooey!!
#90
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Strong Walker
But back to bikes ... when you think of killer examples of victories in the classics what do you think of .... top of the list for me is the 1980 Neige-Bastogne-Neige, won by a Gitane by nearly 10 minutes in a snowstorm in a race that would have been canceled today under the Extreme Weather Protocol. 2nd place was a Peugeot, another Frenchie.


#92
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I find this juxtaposition satisfying:

#93
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A simple way to dispel the nonsensical OP in this thread is to refer to this thread, perhaps the finest thread in BF C&V history:
Alex Singer Cycles and culture
Alex Singer Cycles and culture
#94
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The 84' TdF Club
My 1984 TdF- there's at least 4 of these in the Bay Area. All imports from other areas as far as I can tell.

I had a second one that I sold to a fellow here in Oakland last year.

These and the 1984 Super Corsas are amazing riding bikes. Both models used the same Super Vitus 983 frames, just red vs. blue.

verktyg

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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
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For those who think that the finish/paint/chrome quality was indifferent on French bikes, here are a few photos to judge for yourself. This one from the working man’s bike company, Peugeot. (Well, yes it is a rather rare model)
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I sympathize. I looked off and on ( more like had my eye out for one) for about thirty years before finding one in the proper size and in good condition. Otherwise, I am glad to contribute to that sort of delinquency in any way that I can…..
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#98
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#100
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