Gilles Berthoud - filled-brazed fast randonneuse
11-15-22, 07:34 PM
#1
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Gilles Berthoud - filled-brazed fast randonneuse
While I don't think this bike is terribly old - I'd guess 1990s or turn of the millennium? - it certainly has a 'classic' vibe.
I haven't been posting here in C&V much for a while, but thought folks here might appreciate this one!
The project of building this out to complete took me much longer than it should, as a series of (often expensive) miscues with planning and parts selection + myriad other competing priorities in the context of a worldwide pandemic delayed the journey that eventually brought me to the final build you see below.
Classic fillet-brazed steel frame built with unknown tubing, vertical dropouts finished in the 'fish-mouth' style, simple but elegant binder lug and fork crown. All details very nicely executed.
The steel rando rack came to me with the frame.
Campagnolo Centaur 11 silver group, Campy silver hubs, TA Carmina Compact crank, Nitto cockpit and cages - and, of course, Gilles Berthoud saddle (and XL rando bag in blue canvas / natural leather trim, not pictured).
I'll have to take some detail shots, but here's a quick snap from my very enjoyable first ride this afternoon:
IMG_1200 by Mike Mowbz, on Flickr
I haven't been posting here in C&V much for a while, but thought folks here might appreciate this one!
The project of building this out to complete took me much longer than it should, as a series of (often expensive) miscues with planning and parts selection + myriad other competing priorities in the context of a worldwide pandemic delayed the journey that eventually brought me to the final build you see below.
Classic fillet-brazed steel frame built with unknown tubing, vertical dropouts finished in the 'fish-mouth' style, simple but elegant binder lug and fork crown. All details very nicely executed.
The steel rando rack came to me with the frame.
Campagnolo Centaur 11 silver group, Campy silver hubs, TA Carmina Compact crank, Nitto cockpit and cages - and, of course, Gilles Berthoud saddle (and XL rando bag in blue canvas / natural leather trim, not pictured).
I'll have to take some detail shots, but here's a quick snap from my very enjoyable first ride this afternoon:
IMG_1200 by Mike Mowbz, on Flickr
Last edited by mikemowbz; 11-15-22 at 07:37 PM.
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11-15-22, 07:40 PM
#2
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What a beauty - does it fit like a custom? Berthoud saddle and bags, too. Nice 
Looking forward to detail pics. Yes, you might not post as often, but when you do...
Thanks for dropping by!
DD
Looking forward to detail pics. Yes, you might not post as often, but when you do...
Thanks for dropping by!
DD
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11-15-22, 07:40 PM
#3
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Dammit. NOT FOR SALE...wrong (sub) Forum. Flagged for mods to move to 'regular' C&V as posted Classic & Vintage Sales in error!
11-15-22, 07:56 PM
#4
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Originally Posted by Drillium Dude
What a beauty - does it fit like a custom? Berthoud saddle and bags, too. Nice
Looking forward to detail pics. Yes, you might not post as often, but when you do...
Thanks for dropping by!
DD
Looking forward to detail pics. Yes, you might not post as often, but when you do...
Thanks for dropping by!
DD
If this Berthoud were built for me, an extra 5-10mm in the top tube (by way of slightly slacker ST angle?) might be in the cards, but it's pretty dang close to a perfect fit.
My 45-odd minute maiden voyage suggests that I will be hiking the saddle and setting back on the rails a few mm + giving it a little 'nose up' - at which point I think it should be just about perfect for me, albeit with the aid of the lugged Nitto post you see (which brings a whole lot of setback to the equation) and a handlebar with ample reach (95mm reach on the Nitto Noodle I used is unusually long by modern standards - but I like it, even with the 11s Ergos, and the classic curve suits the bike).
I will endeavour to put my meagre camera skills to use when the sun is up to capture some details and share here!
11-15-22, 08:12 PM
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Sport Tourer! Lovely.
11-15-22, 09:10 PM
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Beauty.
11-16-22, 07:11 AM
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Great looking machine
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
11-16-22, 01:13 PM
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When i hear the words "Giles Berthoud bike", that's what I envision.
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11-16-22, 07:36 PM
#10
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Originally Posted by Dylansbob
When i hear the words "Giles Berthoud bike", that's what I envision.
Thanks to all for the positive comments.
11-16-22, 09:36 PM
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Originally Posted by mikemowbz
Thanks - that comment makes me feel like I did something right here, even if the journey to full build took the long way around!
Thanks to all for the positive comments.
Thanks to all for the positive comments.
Simply fantastic, well done!At the end of the day, it takes what it takes, long way around or otherwise, that's all there is to it, plain and simple, or not.
Case in point.
This didn't take that long once the frame was done but all that time gave me time to agonize over many of the details that turned out exactly how I wanted them to for having plenty of time to get there.
11-20-22, 09:59 PM
#15
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Thanks for all the kind words!
I'm still waiting on a sunny day above 0ºC to take some more detailed pics.
merziac - I like your style! The monostay on that Strawberry is rad, puts me in mind of some of the drool-worthy work of Vancouver's own Chris DeKerf.
I'm still waiting on a sunny day above 0ºC to take some more detailed pics.
merziac - I like your style! The monostay on that Strawberry is rad, puts me in mind of some of the drool-worthy work of Vancouver's own Chris DeKerf.
