Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Show your French bikes!

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Show your French bikes!

Old 12-02-18, 06:21 PM
  #2901  
Senior Member
 
bertinjim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Niagara Region, Canada
Posts: 1,449

Bikes: 1970s Alex Singer, 1960s Peugeot PX 10, 1960s Bertin C37, 1973 Carre Bertin C 37, 1970s Carlton Kermesse, 1982 Peugeot PB 12

Mentioned: 65 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 340 Post(s)
Liked 261 Times in 153 Posts
jboisleduc-

I think CV-6 is correct. You have a Carre/Lejeune in Elvish livery. The distinctive Carre stay caps, fishmouth dropout finish, brake bridge reinforcement and braze-on seat bolt ears all say Carre. The Lejeunes he built, however, had that particular arrangement of the top tube brake cable stops and that unique cable guide for the rear derailleur on the drive side seat stay. So cool that the bike is so meaningful to you and the lack of a serial is often the case with Carre builds. My Carre/Bertin C 37 doesn't have one either.
bertinjim is offline  
Old 12-02-18, 07:24 PM
  #2902  
Member
 
jboisleduc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Austin, Quebec, Canada
Posts: 27

Bikes: Elvish/B. Carré circa 1970, Shimano Norta Aero 1981, Shimano Aero AX 1981

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by bertinjim
jboisleduc-

I think CV-6 is correct. You have a Carre/Lejeune in Elvish livery. The distinctive Carre stay caps, fishmouth dropout finish, brake bridge reinforcement and braze-on seat bolt ears all say Carre. The Lejeunes he built, however, had that particular arrangement of the top tube brake cable stops and that unique cable guide for the rear derailleur on the drive side seat stay. So cool that the bike is so meaningful to you and the lack of a serial is often the case with Carre builds. My Carre/Bertin C 37 doesn't have one either.
What year would you think my Carré / Elvish could be? Lynn? Jim?*
jboisleduc is offline  
Old 12-02-18, 10:44 PM
  #2903  
If I own it, I ride it
 
CV-6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Cardinal Country
Posts: 5,592

Bikes: Lejeune(14), Raleigh, Raysport, Jan De Reus, Gazelle, Masi, B. Carré(4), Springfield, Motobecane(2), Greg Lemond, Andre Bertin, Schwinn Paramount

Mentioned: 55 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 591 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 650 Times in 307 Posts
Based on the 531 decal, after 1973. Prior to 1979 on the other end. Those decals could have been left over but the overall characteristics of the frame tend to put the end range date on it. The cutouts in the lugs are indicative of a top of the line frame. Carré built for a lot of brands, but until this frame, I never saw another brand other than Lejeune having the seat stay cable guide as pointed out by bertinjim.
__________________
Please do not "like" my posts. This isn't Facebook.

Lynn Travers

Photos

CV-6 is offline  
Old 12-03-18, 01:15 AM
  #2904  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Paris, FR
Posts: 58
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I spent the afternoon yesterday at the Alex Singer 80th birthday event. I've uploaded a gallery of photos here
Tychom is offline  
Old 12-03-18, 06:52 AM
  #2905  
So it goes.
 
PilotFishBob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: W. Tennessee
Posts: 1,258

Bikes: A few. Quite a few.

Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 432 Post(s)
Liked 628 Times in 258 Posts
^^ Wow
PilotFishBob is offline  
Old 12-03-18, 08:45 AM
  #2906  
Senior Member
 
djkashuba's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Monte Rio CA
Posts: 1,129

Bikes: Motobecane Le Champion, Raleigh International, Bertin, Raleigh DL-1 1980, Colnago Super,Follis, Bianchi Competizione, Brompton M6L, Black Mountain Monstercros

Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 125 Post(s)
Liked 837 Times in 150 Posts
Outstanding. Thank you for sharing @Tychom!

-D
djkashuba is offline  
Old 12-03-18, 09:43 AM
  #2907  
Member
 
jboisleduc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Austin, Quebec, Canada
Posts: 27

Bikes: Elvish/B. Carré circa 1970, Shimano Norta Aero 1981, Shimano Aero AX 1981

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by CV-6
Based on the 531 decal, after 1973. Prior to 1979 on the other end. Those decals could have been left over but the overall characteristics of the frame tend to put the end range date on it. The cutouts in the lugs are indicative of a top of the line frame. Carré built for a lot of brands, but until this frame, I never saw another brand other than Lejeune having the seat stay cable guide as pointed out by bertinjim.
Thank you so much for all the info! It has always been so special to me but knowing nothing about its history was sad. I begged the guy that sold it to me to put me in contact with his dad who gave it to him but he formally refused to talk to him. Now i know a lot more and i love it even more. I always thought it was built by a "mason" or so. Especially with the "fabrication francaise" decal with the hammer, there something magic about this bike... Well, now i know who built it and i get a confirmation that its special. I was offered money for it several times back in Montreal, i always said even a few thousands dollars wouldnt convince me. Im so glad i held on to it. Thank again! You made my day

Last edited by jboisleduc; 12-03-18 at 09:44 AM. Reason: Correction
jboisleduc is offline  
Old 12-03-18, 10:48 AM
  #2908  
Senior Member
 
greg3rd48's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Bronx, NYC
Posts: 1,941

Bikes: '19 Fuji Gran Fondo 1.5, '72 Peugeot PX10, '71ish Gitane Super Corsa, '78 Fuji Newest, '89 Fuji Ace, '94 Cannondale R600, early '70s LeJeune Pro project

Mentioned: 87 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 293 Post(s)
Liked 218 Times in 101 Posts
Originally Posted by Tychom
I spent the afternoon yesterday at the Alex Singer 80th birthday event. I've uploaded a gallery of photos here
What an event that must have been. Great photos.
greg3rd48 is offline  
Old 12-03-18, 02:59 PM
  #2909  
Senior Member
 
bertinjim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Niagara Region, Canada
Posts: 1,449

Bikes: 1970s Alex Singer, 1960s Peugeot PX 10, 1960s Bertin C37, 1973 Carre Bertin C 37, 1970s Carlton Kermesse, 1982 Peugeot PB 12

Mentioned: 65 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 340 Post(s)
Liked 261 Times in 153 Posts
jboisleduc-

I would think a very late 1960s or early 1970s production for your Carre/Lejeune/Elvish due to production details. Your bike's production details are similar to this Carre/Lejeunne:



There are further details here at Classic Factory lightweights including what is possibly Jan Janssen's TdF bike by Carre. Glad you are getting the background to the bike that the originally seller cannot or will not provide. Be aware that bikes were often re-decaled to suit racers who changed teams but not bikes. It was far easier and cheaper to re-spray and re-decal in a new livery than provide an amateur or semi-pro with new equipment.
bertinjim is offline  
Old 12-03-18, 03:02 PM
  #2910  
Senior Member
 
bertinjim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Niagara Region, Canada
Posts: 1,449

Bikes: 1970s Alex Singer, 1960s Peugeot PX 10, 1960s Bertin C37, 1973 Carre Bertin C 37, 1970s Carlton Kermesse, 1982 Peugeot PB 12

Mentioned: 65 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 340 Post(s)
Liked 261 Times in 153 Posts
Tychom -

Thank you for sharing those Singer photos. Severe bike lust.
bertinjim is offline  
Old 12-07-18, 08:50 PM
  #2911  
Member
 
jboisleduc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Austin, Quebec, Canada
Posts: 27

Bikes: Elvish/B. Carré circa 1970, Shimano Norta Aero 1981, Shimano Aero AX 1981

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by bertinjim
jboisleduc-

I would think a very late 1960s or early 1970s production for your Carre/Lejeune/Elvish due to production details. Your bike's production details are similar to this Carre/Lejeunne:

There are further details here at Classic Factory lightweights including what is possibly Jan Janssen's TdF bike by Carre. Glad you are getting the background to the bike that the originally seller cannot or will not provide. Be aware that bikes were often re-decaled to suit racers who changed teams but not bikes. It was far easier and cheaper to re-spray and re-decal in a new livery than provide an amateur or semi-pro with new equipment.
Thanks Jim for the clues. Ive been scanning pictures of carré's bikes year by year and it really looks like its a late 60's early 70's as you said. Id say 69/70 but ill keep looking...*

I never mentionned bb shell is RGF, would it ring a bell?

Also the steerer has a piece of wood at the bottom...
I need to get that steerer off the bike and see if theres something stamped on it.

What components would you think it originally came with? Campy nuovo?

Not that im planning to bring it back to original, just curious...
jboisleduc is offline  
Old 12-07-18, 09:21 PM
  #2912  
Senior Member
 
deux jambes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Eugene, OR
Posts: 1,340
Mentioned: 64 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 535 Post(s)
Liked 344 Times in 196 Posts

1982 PFN-10
deux jambes is offline  
Old 12-07-18, 09:30 PM
  #2913  
Senior Member
 
bertinjim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Niagara Region, Canada
Posts: 1,449

Bikes: 1970s Alex Singer, 1960s Peugeot PX 10, 1960s Bertin C37, 1973 Carre Bertin C 37, 1970s Carlton Kermesse, 1982 Peugeot PB 12

Mentioned: 65 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 340 Post(s)
Liked 261 Times in 153 Posts
jboisleduc -

RGF was used frequently by builders of that period. The wood in the steerer is typical of high end French bikes of this time. The wood plug acted as a fail safe in case the steerer column broke at the crown/steering column joint. All 3 of my PX 10s had them and I know many other owners of French bikes had the same experience. The wood plug in combination with the brake fixing bolt acted to hold the steerer column and crown in case of failure. The steerer itself may be a Nervor or Reynolds and the brand will be stamped into the steerer just above the crown joint. If it's a 69-70s frameset, the OEM equipment will be high end French: Stronglight P3 or V4 headset and a 93 crankset, Normandy HF Luxe Competition hubs, Simplex F & R Criterium derailleurs, Simplex seatpost, a Brooks or Ideale saddle, Mafac Racer Brakes, and tubular rims and tires. An alternative would be early an Campy Nuovo Record gruppo.
bertinjim is offline  
Old 12-07-18, 09:55 PM
  #2914  
Member
 
jboisleduc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Austin, Quebec, Canada
Posts: 27

Bikes: Elvish/B. Carré circa 1970, Shimano Norta Aero 1981, Shimano Aero AX 1981

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
i got her in 2004 with all 1985 shimano 600 components. now shes kind of an anachronic poutine. shes a mix of generations and origins but shes still the best climber i ever knowned...
jboisleduc is offline  
Old 12-07-18, 11:13 PM
  #2915  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 2,000
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 457 Post(s)
Liked 42 Times in 33 Posts
Originally Posted by Tychom
I spent the afternoon yesterday at the Alex Singer 80th birthday event. I've uploaded a gallery of photos here

Love the photos. Somewhere, somewhere hanging in a barn or shed is an Alex Singer; just waiting, collecting dust, waiting for me to find it. Someday I'll own one.
vintagerando is offline  
Old 12-10-18, 03:18 PM
  #2916  
Full Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Northern Cal
Posts: 258

Bikes: Lots, mostly Bianchi

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 58 Post(s)
Liked 111 Times in 55 Posts
Just finished my 1972 Peugeot UO-8 Path Racer.

aceves



Last edited by aceves; 12-10-18 at 03:25 PM.
aceves is offline  
Old 12-10-18, 04:33 PM
  #2917  
Member
 
jboisleduc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Austin, Quebec, Canada
Posts: 27

Bikes: Elvish/B. Carré circa 1970, Shimano Norta Aero 1981, Shimano Aero AX 1981

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by aceves
Just finished my 1972 Peugeot UO-8 Path Racer.

aceves
Good job! you work very well!!
I hope you will wax the chain instead of oil so it stays gold..
jboisleduc is offline  
Old 12-10-18, 05:18 PM
  #2918  
Full Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Northern Cal
Posts: 258

Bikes: Lots, mostly Bianchi

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 58 Post(s)
Liked 111 Times in 55 Posts
Originally Posted by jboisleduc
Good job! you work very well!!
I hope you will wax the chain instead of oil so it stays gold..
Will do.

aceves
aceves is offline  
Old 12-10-18, 05:25 PM
  #2919  
Full Member
 
Honusms's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 231

Bikes: More than my husband knows about

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 88 Post(s)
Liked 45 Times in 19 Posts
Just finished my 1972 Peugeot UO-8 Path Racer.

aceves



Very spiffy! Well done!!!
Honusms is offline  
Old 12-10-18, 05:32 PM
  #2920  
Full Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Northern Cal
Posts: 258

Bikes: Lots, mostly Bianchi

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 58 Post(s)
Liked 111 Times in 55 Posts
Originally Posted by Honusms
Just finished my 1972 Peugeot UO-8 Path Racer.

aceves



Very spiffy! Well done!!!
Thanks Honusms! Had lots of fun with this one!

aceves
aceves is offline  
Old 12-11-18, 02:44 PM
  #2921  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Raleigh, NC area
Posts: 82

Bikes: '73 Gitane Tour de France; '79 Peugeot PKN-10 Competition; '78 Sekai 4000 Pro; '72 Gitane TDF; '72 Schwinn Super Sport

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Liked 65 Times in 36 Posts
My recent find - Gold '73 Gitane Tour de France

Here's a gold Gitane TdF I bought off Craigslist in October. In high school (1973) I rode my first one all over Eastern North Carolina while my friends were riding Schwinns! Talk about follow the leader. So now, 45 years older and 50 lbs heavier, after looking for another TdF on Craigslist for 3 years (sold my first one in college, and regretted it ever since), I'm finally losing weight, getting over saddle sores and remembering why I love this model so much. Didn't know they produced gold ones though until I spotted this one...1973-4 model.

NOLA Sekai 4K is offline  
Old 12-11-18, 05:36 PM
  #2922  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,376
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 225 Post(s)
Liked 160 Times in 106 Posts
Originally Posted by jboisleduc
Here is the Elvish bicycle that made me fall in love with cycling. It was given to me from a coworker that had it sitting in his garage. It came from his dad, but he didnt talk to him to anymore, so i was never able to get some piece of history from the previous owner. That bike litterally changed my life... I had been biking to commute in Montreal for years, but that bike was so smooth and fast, i fell in love. Also i have to admit i find her quite pretty.. I started pedaling for fun, loving Montreal's climbs, got in better shape then i had ever been. Biking in the townships on weekends, I discovered i was a natural climber.. I could keep going on that love story but i wont haha! Lets get to more technical stuff


She went through some upgrades along the years. Got her with all Shimano 600 12 speed 1985 groupset, upgraded with dura ace 2x9speed. Frame was streched to fit a larger cassette. Upgraded the original Rigida wheelset to Campy nucleon. It has Campagnolo dropouts. Reynolds 531 tubing. French threaded cranks were retapped by Marinoni to fit standard thread clipless pedals(currently speedplay). BBcups are still french thread Shimano600, but axle was replaced. Unfortunately, i have never found the serial number on this bike, but it feels older than the 85 groupset i got it with.


rando_couche is offline  
Old 12-11-18, 05:45 PM
  #2923  
Senior Member
 
rjhammett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 2,400

Bikes: 85 De Rosa, 92 Merckx MX Leader, 99 Tommasini Sintesi, 08 Look 585, 89 Merckx Corsa Extra, 72 Holdsworth Professional

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 360 Post(s)
Liked 545 Times in 238 Posts
This post is probably illegal since this bike is only 10 years old and it is not steel. My other 16 bikes are all vintage steel. Here is my 2008 Look 585 plastic bike.

rjhammett is online now  
Old 12-11-18, 08:56 PM
  #2924  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 76

Bikes: 1971 Raleigh Int'l, ~1973 Motobecane Grand Record, ~1980 Fuji S-12-S, 1991 Bridgestone RB-1

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post



She was covered in a thick layer of grime, grease and dust when I first met her in a shopping mall parking lot, a CL transaction. Overhauled everything, changed some things (chainrings, stem, saddle), added fenders, built new set of wheels, and glued on my first tubulars. I got a little carried away, arguably, but I learned so much. And she rides so sweetly.

Last edited by corn on the cog; 12-26-18 at 10:28 AM.
corn on the cog is offline  
Old 12-11-18, 11:06 PM
  #2925  
tantum vehi
 
mountaindave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Flathead Valley, MT
Posts: 4,545

Bikes: More than I care to admit

Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1165 Post(s)
Liked 959 Times in 479 Posts
Originally Posted by corn on the cog



She was covered in a thick layer of grime, grease and dust when I first met her in a shopping mall parking lot, a CL transaction. Overhauled everything, changed some things (crankset, stem, saddle), added fenders, built new set of wheels, and glued on my first tubulars. I got a little carried away, arguably, but I learned so much. And she rides so sweetly.
Beautiful! The read bar tape is a wonderful accent.
mountaindave is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.