Take two: Is this something worth pursuing?
 

The Lejeune I was originally interested was apparently sold while I had dinner tonight. :cry: I should have known it would go quickly... the price was right, after all. I take some minimal comfort in knowing that its sale was probably pending by the time I discovered it.

Discovering that the advertisement had been removed, I began my search again, in despairing hope that it had simply been relisted. No luck there, unfortunately... However, the following two bicycles did catch my eye.

1
http://193.164.196.60/images/111/1119041777.jpg

http://193.164.196.50/images/114/1143709500.jpg

-few details provided in the ad, but it appears to be similarly equipped as the last bike I wrote about, although with a different decal scheme.
-I still have no clue about that tubing decal... did Reynolds once produce their own version of hi-ten and sell it with a yellow decal like that, or is it Columbus, as was suggested for the last bike?
-no size is listed for the frame, but it looks like something between 56cm and 58cm, right?

2
http://193.164.196.60/images/930/9306962879.jpg

-this bike is apparently "all Reynolds", has Shimano Crane derailers, Dura-Ace brakes, and is 56 cm. Does that look correct?

So... the same question, take two: Should I make an effort to take either of these bikes home with me? Once again, I appreciate any and all feedback! I'm ever in awe of the depth of the knowledge-base here.

They both look very nice.

They both appear to have tubular tires. Are you ready to deal with those? Or change the wheels?

Both. the Mercier looks nicer to me buy the big hubs on the leJune are too cool to pass up

No idea about the Mercier. The Lejeune is close to the first one you posted, though the hubs look like earlier Campy Nuovo Tipo to me. I don't know if NGS high flange hubs had round holes or not. The frame & fork stickers could be Reynolds ones, but I doubt very much if they are Columbus. It looks larger, though: more like a 58cm.

Rectangular Reynolds fork stickers: http://defietsenmaker.nl/index.php?i...id=485&lang=EN

Both appear nice, I would place the LeJeune above the other. Someone swapped out the original Record hubs.
The LeJeune does indeed appear larger, 58 center to top would be my guess.

LeJeunes have not been popping up on ebay very often lately. Must be all those happy owners.

next time, buy bike, eat dinner... THEN post...

BTW, i vote for the blue one.

Indeed!

At the moment, I prefer the Lejeune, mostly because I like to ride 58cm (plus, I love the look of the Lejeune). However, I'm not really interested in going to the trouble of shipping a bike that's not made out of some nice variety of tubing. I just sent a message to the owner of the Lejeune, in order to inquire about the tubing sticker. I'd like to know more certainly what the Lejeune is made of before I make any decisions. If I were back home, I'd simply go take a look at it... however, I have less confidence (in myself, mostly) here.

edit: another picture of the Lejeune:

http://193.164.197.50/images/117/1176629363.jpg

edit#2: I'm willing to deal with tubular tires, if that's what comes with the bike.

Both are cool. LeJeune seems a bit tall going off of your last thread.

My word, where are you finding these lovely Lejeunes? I have to start looking at more threads as I missed your first one and only opened this one by chance. I believe the Lejeune to be 531. I downloaded the photo, enlarged and made it negative and the tubing label looks to be later 531 with the larger bar across the bottom to me. The forks may not have tubing labels. I have seen Lejeunes without any and some with one. I cannot say I have ever seen that particular head badge for Lejeune, but they were prolific with the variations of those and the paint schemes. Often Lejeune also appeared on the forks. FD appears to have a CPSC lip and holes, so that dates it 78 and later, assuming the FD is original. Hard to tell what level Campag. Could well be NR. Tipo hubs as pointed out by repechage.

I also find the Mercier quite nice. Too bad it is not the famous pink. I don't think you could go wrong with either. It comes down to which fits you better.

First rule of getting a deal, particularly in a red hot market like Portland: Grab now, study later. While you are waiting for feedback from fellow listers, a scooper is out there grabbing it (if it is a deal).

Educate yourself (the web is a great equalizer) and pounce. Best deals are captured at inconvenient times and usually have little/no information. Ads with pictures as good as the ones above will grab someone's attention. Then its just a matter of the price.

Yes - and there are snakes in the grass lurking here that will have no problem running this one to ground while you try to find out more about it.

On a LeJeune, do not get hung up on the tubing, this one should be of material that will provide all you need or want. The brakes may be Gran Sport with replaced brake holders and pads, the crank may also be G.S. too, no matter. I do not see the reason to dally other than if the price is outrageous.

front valve stem looks Schrader to me...

Great point, more than one person has lost out on a deal by revealing it here first: "Is this a deal?" Realize there are people surfing this forum looking for leads on bikes.

But if I'm not mistaken, these bikes are in France...right? Though that second pic sure looks like "American truck and backyard" to me...

Why do I think the LeJeune is in Chevrolet country... must be the truck.

Baseball, apple pie and Chevrolet.... was not that the jingle?

Cevy half-ton fo sho. That's odd for France.

aude?

I tend to call up right away and hope they understand my awful french. Then contacting by email inorder to get the address

good luck, the good bikes get snapped up fast

Not as odd as you think. Having that type of trash can in America would seem more odd. Yellow-top trashcans usually = Europe. At least in this area. All I see on recyclable trash day is a sea of yellow tops.

Wow, thanks!

Yep... allegedly, at least. The ad (found on a French website) claims the bike is just outside Paris, to the southeast.

Several years from now, when I have a steady income, I'll be able to do things this way... however, my budget is extremely limited due to my college-student status, and I can't afford to make mistakes. Also, the price of this Lejeune is much less of a smoking-hot deal than the last one was... If it hasn't already sold (the ad is a month old, but is still up), I'd imagine I should be relatively safe for a few days.

I'm flying Icelandair later this summer to get back home, and their bicycle shipping policy is very reasonable, I think: if it fits within certain (to me, seemingly generous) dimensions, it only costs $40. I'm all but convinced, at this point - I'm going to call the number associated with the ad this afternoon. Hopefully, the bike is available.

In the event that I do wind up with the bicycle, does anyone know where I can find a bike shipping box in France? Can I expect the local bike shops to stock these, and does anyone know how much they'll charge me to pack the bicycle (I have no tools, nor any way to do it myself)?

This is the issue always.

I would work this out BEFORE buying a bike. And I would contact the airline, they might sell boxes as well. Sounds like you are going to be paying a shop to pack it for you. I would get some idea of price, might not be too bad.

I ask at bike shops (explain your american sending a bike home) and they either give me a box, or let me help myself to the bins.

I would pack the bike myself, buying an allen key set from a super market (3-4 euros) and a roll of brown tape (2 euros)

Wheels off, then the stem out the frame and the rear deralieur off

wrap everything up in old newspapers and brown tape, then put into bike box and add tape.

If you decide to post, recored to america is zone C on this chart

http://www.veloup.com/laposte/collis-international.PNG

Damn, that lejeune is even nicer than the one you had before! And amen to being a broke college student and not being able to play ball with most flippers/collectors that have a steady job, a garage and a car.