Hi all,
Just picked this up at the local community bike shop. It's a little rough, but good for my wife to use around town. Has some features that are unique from the other Bertrand in my stable, so I thought I'd share, and see if anyone has thoughts. Of note, this bike was built with Super Vitus 980 tubing. Based on the mix of mid range to higher end French and Japanese components, I'm guessing it's early 80's, and likely worth some time and attention.
My other Bertrand is built with Columbus tubing, so I guess M. Bertrand did not use any one tubing exclusively.
If anyone knows more about the tubing or components, I'd love to hear the insights.

Anyway, everyone likes photos, so here you go:





Here's the album:
https://s101.beta.photobucket.com/use...lue%20Bertrand

Well, we know Bertand wasn't in the frame business until 1981 and his origninal partner learned the trade at a couple of French manufacturers, so the Super Vitus tubeset and early 1980s estimate both make sense. However the components themselves look upper, entry evel, like they came from a French donor bicycle and then the rear derailleur was later replaced.

Thanks for your perspective, T-mar. I'll likely follow a 'entry-mid level' approach to building up this bike, since it's destined to be a bit of an "in-town get-about". Anyway, looking forward to getting some feedback from my wife as to how it rides!

Regards,
Neil

SV980's was one of the highest spec steel tubing that Vitus made, very light and had sometimes been compared to be very close specs to what Reynolds 753 tubing was in terms of tubeset weights. Although some say it's very light gauge and metric diameters resulted in too whippy a bike,It should perform well on a smaller frame like that Bertrand. The frame can be considered as upper, mid level spec (despite the nice tubing spec, Vitus was always kinda playing catch up with Reynolds and Columbus), considering that it does not have any chrome and the very simple graphics and one color paint, but the lugwork looks very good. I'd go ahead and paint those lug windows the same yellow used on the brand decals to raise some aesthetic points for the bike....
The components on that bike look more like lower mid to mid level stuff from French and Swiss makers Huret (FD,) Stronglight (104? crankset), Maillard (steel caged quill pedals) and Weinmann (405? brakeset). Good "workhorse" stuff but not fancy at all. The also mid-spec Cambio Rino Italian headset looks lost on that bike though...
If that was my bike, I would not hesitate to mod up the bike with some nicer French stuff like maybe a Stronglight/Spidel model 106 fluted crankset, Simplex SLJ5500 or 6600 RD and matching FD....etc...etc....etc.....

Chombi

Yeah, I had the same thought about the headset. Stem seemed a bit odd too, but sort of fit in with the whole "all over the place" nature of the build!

I was reading about the SV980 being a very light weight tubing, and figured that would be an OK thing for the smaller frame size.

Looking forward to this winter project!

I've been a fan of SV980 framed French bikes since I bought my 1984 Peugeot PSV (As in "Peugeot SuperVitus")...back in 84...
The bike came from Peugeot with mid level components similar to what you have on your Bertrand presently, but just a little newer, but I've continually modded up the bike through the years to come up with this:

Only thing left original on the bike is the JPR seatpost and Stronglight A9 headset.....and it's been fun modding it up, feeling and seeing the improvement of both ride and aesthetics!
The C&V French bike fans on this forum can help you figure out any mods you might be considering with suggestions and comments, so don't hesitate to ask for help.

Chombi

That bike looks great, Chombi. I'll admit it, I don't know much about the French components, and local availability may also be a challenge, but I'll keep in mind that there are Franco-philes lurking in these forums that can help me out with advice!

Regards,
Neil