WOW....what a stunner ! Hadn't seen that Leicalad. Thanks.

Rootboy,

Yeah, isn't that one simply amazing! Nice guy, too.

Your Moto can play with us ANYtime.

Now, someone tell Grand Bois about this thread. He has, among other bikes, a very nice Gitane setup as a city bike.

;-)

Now here's a good anti-rattle idea: Two doodles. Triangulating, as it were.

Stemvy.

BlueDevil, that is a fine, fine looking bike.

Who did the refinishing?

Oh brother ...he does it again. Simply splendid. The classiest color for a PX. What kind of front cable hanger is that BDsixthree?

When I got the frame it had had a bunch of brazeons put on (top tube cable guides, shifter bosses, top of BB cable guides, two sets of bottle cage bosses) and had been painted completely black, no chrome, no decals, nothing. The owner thought it was some kind of "Italian bike" because it had all Campy Super Record on it (that is why I bought it). Well when I got it I discovered it was a PX10E from around 70 or so. I decided to do a budget restoration. The black paint was pretty well done and in pretty good shape so I decided to do a sort of inverse PX10 color scheme. I painted the lugs and fork crown (masked and sprayed) and did the lug lining (by hand with a brush) myself. The decals are all reproductions from 60s through 70. I liked the older decals. Mix of period correct French and Italian components except for the Nitto bars and new Brooks seat. I have a set of all French wheels I am restoring (Normandy Luxe Comp hubs, Simplex skewers, Mavic tubular rims) that will eventually end up on this bike. I hope to eventually get it all French.

Well kind of long story. The fork on this bike is really too short. The headset is a Specialized that has no external markings and looks more or less period correct. It was running with no spacers and the lock nut was only engaging about 2 turns. Not good. So I ground down the lock nut to get it to engage better but had no room to install a front cable hanger (the bike came with side pulls) for the Mafacs. So I found a cable hanger that clamps onto the stem, above the headset lock nut. Got it at Velo Orange. The only problem is that it is so BIG! It is a bit much for me but I haven't come up with a better solution yet. If I could find a French stem with an integrated cable hanger that would be great. Or a really, really low stack height headset. I wanted to put the correct Stronglight headset on it but no way it would fit.

Stunning Blue Devil! The reverse color scheme and white cabling really looks great together.

We ride about the same size (frame was formerly LeicaLads).

Somehow I missed this earlier. Very, very cool.

Thanks BlueDevil63. I don't own many bikes, but this one is my pride and joy.

It is HARD for me to ever part with a bike. I had this bike over 30 years, in spite of it being a full 1" too big. That, of course, is the primary reason it remained in such fine condition, too! Still, I am so glad to know it went to a fine home.

It's VERY nice to see it again. Thanks for showing it here!

LL

Good to hear from you LL!

I'm certainly grateful you decided to send it to new home. It's a revelation every time I take it out. The French knew something about making a well handling bike, it just feels 'awake' when ridden.

Once spring arrives I'll be sure to post some on the road shots.

BlueDevil,

Is there a little metallic in the black paint? The contrast with the lugs is very eye-catching, more so than the factory white frame/black lugs in my opinion.

Excellent work!

This is my early '70s TDF. Too small for me, but I love the purple. Unfortunately it shows more blue than purple in this picture.

Whoa, the orange Moto and the negative PX-10... wowie.

Great looking bikes in here, For some reason French bikes seem to be drawn to my garage.

My 1976 Tour de France, purchased from original owner.


My wifes 1975 Nomade, purchased from original owner.


My sons Vitus 979,


My sons 1972 Ao8, purchased from original owner.

Yes the paint is a metallic black. I hope to have a full set of "professional" pics of this in a week or two.

Another chance to post pics! This is what I had till 2008 accident, Moto Le Champion 1972:


A work in process as it was set up to ride. I was going to get it to a more original state with the right tires, etc., was cut short with it being bent.

1979 Motobecane Team Champion

Grand Bois! There you are! I've been waiting for an update of your French beauties!

Lovely. Thanks for posting. Please give a few more details about this last bike.

Golly! - I remember that "Gas Pipe Jeunet beater bike" with the green sun-fade and gorgeous Simplex crank. It's a Tdf model ("To die for" model, that is! )