Re: [CR] Routens & Rene Herse & Alex Singer

(Example: Framebuilding:Technology)

Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2001 12:03:26 -0700
To: Wdgadd@aol.com, twar@hotmail.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "Bicycle Classics inc" <bikevint@tiac.net>
Subject: Re: [CR] Routens & Rene Herse & Alex Singer


Dear Wes,

Your memory is quite right! One of the terrible mistakes of my cycling past is that Mike nearly begged my to look at his Routens - yet I was so fixated on the false mantra of Campy that I never made the effort. I figured that a bizzare French machine was of little significance. Hardly a day goes by now when I wondered what turn my cycling interest would have taken had I seen the light 20 years ago - that bike was right under my nose and I ignored it. So young and foolish...

Regarding Routens, Grenoble is in France - a ways away from Paris I believe. Folks in the "know" consider the sheer performance of a Routens to be of similar (if not better) quality to an Herse or Singer. Routens has a rich history in trials competition. Raymond Henry, the noted French historian, has written a wonderful paper on him that can be found in the International Cycling History Conference Proceedings.

Routens bikes have some unique features. They are nearly all fillet brazed as I understand. He had, like Singer and Herse a wonderful lever actuated front deraillieur. The "Hellenic" type seatstay treatment is typical of Routens but not unique to him - many Singer bikes in the 40's and some Herse's I believe also were finished this way. Most unique to Routens are the gussetts by the bottom bracket shell that are illustrated in Rebour drawings and show up in the Data Book. As I understand, many Routens bikes do not seem to have the same sense of elegance as an Herse, but Routens are quite wonderful indeed.

Hope this info helps. Mike Kone

At 09:12 AM 3/14/01 EST, Wdgadd@aol.com wrote:
>Hi Mike!
> I read your posting with some interest. You mentioned Routens (not sure
>if my spelling is correct, either). Since you grew up in West Hartford, you
>may remember Michael Coakley, who worked as a mechanic at Marholin Lane. His
>Routens was my introduction to this style of bike. It had 650b's, brazed on
>Cyclo changer, integrated racks and, I think, lighting. I dont know what
>happened to it after his tragic death in '83.
> I also have custody of a friends Robert Ducheron. He had it built for him
>when he was in Paris years ago. He said Ducheron was rather old and tired,
>and having lots of wine with extended lunches. The quality seems to bear this
>out, but it is a rather charming example of this genre. It is lugged (prugnat
>probably) with the BB shell characteristic of the Herses and Singers Ive seen
>(who made this shell?). Hellenic stays, brazed on Mafac 2000 brakes, etc.
> Also, I seem to remember Routens being associated with
>Switzerland(Grenoble) rather than France. Does anyone know more about these
>two makers?
>
>Regards,
>Wes Gadd
>
> P.S. Wish you were still in Needham!