Any info on a Sutter Chatellerault?
 

Acquired an old Sutter Chatellerault. Not much on the interwebs about these bikes. Labeled as Made in France. French BB. Kind of fancy lugs. Not light (2500g), but in the same ballpark as some late 80s Schwinns with double butted chromo (~2425) I've weighed. Really long dropouts. Weird little lip on the bottom of the non-driveside dropout (somewhat visible in the one picture). Almost looks like there's a bolt welded to the bottom of the derailleur hanger.

If anybody knows anything about this bike/brand, I'd love to hear about it.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=290807

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=290808http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=290809http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=290810http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=290811

Not much here...http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Fra...les/sutter.htm

I believe that thing hanging down on the nondrive side is to help get the wheel in. Is the dropout spread open a bit?

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...0&d=1356824808

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...9&d=1356824783

Yeah, the dropout does look a little bent. Hope to bend it back with out breaking anything.

The frame was bare except for the fork, a no name headset and a "Belri Course" stem that was apparently made in France. The frame is a 58. And since I like weighing things: Frame 2499g; fork 842g

Simplex dropouts; you can see the word Simplex on them.

The weight is about the same as a straight gauge 531 frame. Not bad.

Interesting that it's the first time I've seen Simplex rear dropouts on a bike that is not 531 double-butted.

I bought a bike a few years back and it had a Cinelli stem pantographed with "Alex Sutter", along with matching pantographed Campagnolo shifter levers. Not August Sutter, but maybe there is some linkage? The frame on that bike wasnt a Sutter, looked nice, but was very heavy once stripped down (and it was cracked so it went in the bin).

That is a cool frame. The right chain stay tube is bent at the small end. It looks like it ended up bent when the dropout was damaged.

Andre' Sutter was the bicycle people behind "manufacture d'armes et de cycles de chatellerault" which is a big manufacturer in France.

Not common, but not uncommone (I'd edit this, but like the "olde english" speeling) either. Jeunet's entry level gaspipe frame had simplex dos, for example.

What's the seatpost size on the frame?

Oh, and "belri" is probably belleri, maker of some very pretty handlebars.

Seatpost appears to be 25.4

There is one of these sitting up in an old garage storage area. 99% complete! Some Campy stuff on it..can't really see the whole bicycle! Once a year I "mention" it! I've pulled 2 old Schwinn out of the lower garage so far! Beautiful practically unridden ladies varsity and his big frame sit-up single speed grocery getter with paper boy baskets in the back and complete generater light set-up! There are a couple of old Stingrays single speeds gathering dust up there, too! I collect old racing bikes and I want that A. Sutter bad! I'll try to get pictures of the A. Sutter!

At 25.4, it's gaspipe, but given that it is french, it likely rides great. The french were better with gaspipe than anyone else, by a pretty good measure IMO. Build it up and ride it, it looks like a fun project (and no one else has one!)

You have to get this fender ornament...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/collectvelo/4523835934/

I seem to be in the habit of joining forums a bit after everyone else and this one is no exception. I was greatly surprised to find that this yellow-framed A. Sutter Chatellerault bike frame shown in the referenced images appears to be identical to one that I picked up a few years ago. Mine was complete and in excellent condition for its age, overall, but fitted with all the rather original, inexpensive components that seem to characterise these 'mid-range' mid-70s French bikes (e.g. Peugeot U-08, et al). I decided that the bike would make (as a daily bicycle commuter) a good, sturdy addition to my stable (of bikes) and had it 'restored/updated' with more expensive components and running gear for use as what I termed a 'rain-bike' (for use during rainy weather), since it handled well and was pleasant to ride (despite its weight). After all, when the roads are straight, flat and unchallenging, and the distances ridden are less than 10 miles, it's a perfect all-weather (California) street commuter. And so it was.

Very recently, since my knee is now making my former running habits a bit proscriptive, I decided to acquire an indoor rear-ergonometer set-up to use with this bike and now have it in the family room, where I use it for about 30 minutes daily (for cardio). The old machine seems to be happy there and it certainly beats leaving it hanging in the garage to get dusty, with my other bikes. Since the forum's policies stipulate that photos are not permitted to be uploaded until certain circumstances are complied with (10 posts, 5 days, etc., etc) I can't yet share the images I took of this bike, but will do so as soon as its copasetic. The new peripherals (components) seem to work well on the old bike, although I was a bit aghast when one of my local bike shop people looked at it (with its new Shimano components) and offered to buy it "..to strip the new components and use them on a 'better bike'" (presumably dumping the frame as a useless relic!). AWWWK! Since I have a nostalgic attachment to older technologies, I quickly told him where he could go, needless to say! I readily admit that I am a neo-proto-Luddite' when it comes to embracing the latest 'gee-whiz', expensive-as-sin technological stuff (the only reason why I even have a carbon-fiber 1989 Lemond 'Alpe d'huez' in my stable is because it's a semi-rare beastie). As I remarked in a previous post, I still have a nice Peugeot PX-10 that I bought new in 1971 (for US$ 155..?...I had it completely updated with expensive new components, but was careful to keep all the original stuff it came with, even including the by-now VERY old sew-ups it was shod with, LoL).

At any rate, if anyone is still interested in 70s era August Sutter roadbikes, this and subsequent posts will add to the backstory on them. More as time permits.