tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670821997816721107.post9104507969043382308..comments2024-03-26T09:23:20.339-07:00Comments on Perth Vintage Cycles: 1950's French Randonneur BicyclesJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03033624585905174065noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670821997816721107.post-2860549925202268162021-03-29T01:47:34.743-07:002021-03-29T01:47:34.743-07:00Graf Zepplin main frames were riveted, many smalle...Graf Zepplin main frames were riveted, many smaller components welded aluminium.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07201563061838990376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670821997816721107.post-49229245830323552162021-03-29T01:20:06.738-07:002021-03-29T01:20:06.738-07:00Aluminium was Oxyfuel gas welded as early as 1900 ...Aluminium was Oxyfuel gas welded as early as 1900 on the Graf Zepplins.<br />There were many French aluminium welded marques in the 1940'sAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07201563061838990376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670821997816721107.post-47814513178963933822020-09-08T21:12:40.322-07:002020-09-08T21:12:40.322-07:00I swear this was the bike I was loaned a few times...I swear this was the bike I was loaned a few times by the French family I stayed with as a high school exchange student c.1980. I was 16 and the bike was regarded as just basic everyday transportation for me to use get to the train station a few miles from their house. Even though I was 'into bikes' then, the stenciled brand name on the down tube had been worn away and somehow even the badge logo was illegible too, so I could not identify the make of this bike that I've now remembered for decades since though I only rode it a few times through suburban Paris. It was the father's old bike but he was not aware of too many details about it. It may have even been passed down to him by an older relative. This was an old bike even for the early 80's and he was just working on middle age then. The road to the station was bumpy (possibly cobblestone!) but I recall being aware that the bike's design with it's 'fat' (red!) tires seemed to be purpose-built for just that type of French road and now I know! Mostly what has stuck in my mind since then was it's unique bare aluminum 'non-welded' lug construction and those comfortably generous (and red!) tires. I instinctively knew even then that that particular bike was likely a strictly French experience and I would never see a bike like it in The U.S and I haven't. At that time I had my eye on a neighbor's old college bike a big white PX-10. I still love old-time-y bikes although I did clear out my bike horde in the dark days before eBay. It was the 90s and I even let the PX-10 go for PENNIES! Now I've become a 'bike minimalist'. I've learned to be realistic and to recognize the time investment involved in every overly arduous, overly ambitious restoration attempt. I now concentrate on 70s-1987 high-end Raleighs,dream bikes that are 'classic' now but were far out of my reach back when they were new. I must admit that re-experiencing this aluminum French bike that I now know for sure was made by Mercier after forty years is really exciting and it has re-kindled the fascination I still have for this amazing 'mystery' bike!! A thousand 'thank yous' to 'Perth Cycles' for this 2016 post! Many thanks! <br /><br />-Timothy Horan Framingham MA. U.S.A. T.Horan1965https://www.blogger.com/profile/09208711006678585962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4670821997816721107.post-89956372502940248832015-06-01T05:34:11.636-07:002015-06-01T05:34:11.636-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.llewellynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07135629791010166661noreply@blogger.com