My much loved 1976 Motobecane Super Mirage.

Got it for free off Craigslist, all original and only needed air in the tires to be ridable.

I'm of the opinion that it was stored new in a dry basement or suchlike as there was minimal rust spotting and nothing had dryrotted.


I rushed taking pics of it, I need to reshoot this one from the drive side in a different spot.


These were taken while the bike was still in the condition I brought it home in.

I had, literally, just pulled it out of the van and from under the Raleigh LTD-3 that had fallen over onto it.

Until I tried out the shifters to make sure they worked I don't think the chain had ever been on the big ring.






I later realized they had goofed the decal on this side of the downtube, they cut the bottom of the name off, not sure if I should try to fix it or just leave it to see if anyone else notices.


The Weinmanns have since been replaced by a set of Mafac Racers from the same period.


I love these high flange hubs, I plan of lacing them into a set of alloy rims some time in the near future.

Something else I discovered today, according to the specs this bike should have a QR hub on the front, as you can see, it doesn't.

The hub also has the Normandy date code of 42 74, meaning this is a 1974 wheel... which leaves me wondering what it's doing on this bike.


I know most folks dislike pieplates but I couldn't get over how this one still looks like new, not a hint of the plastic yellowing at all.

This winter it'll be torn down and given a good cleaning & servicing, I eventually want to kit it out with a Brooks saddle, leather bartape, and period correct fenders and rack.

...my girlfriend refers to it as "the other woman"...