I have a couple of French bikes that I've not heard mentioned anywhere else:
1972 Manufrance (Made in France) basic entry level racer with 531 main frame, Belleri bars, and Belri stem, Mafac Racer brakes, Normandy hubs Ambrosio clinchers, with Stronglight 49D, Lyotard pedals, Stronglight HS and BB, and beaten Delrin Simplex shifters and derailleurs. It cost me a whopping $25 CDN and sports fenders and knobby tires as my fixed gear spring trainer.
1980 Raymond Cloarec triathlon bike. This builder is apparently from the south of France near the Spanish border and the bike is equipped with mostly Zeus and a smattering of French parts. Aelle frame, this is also an entry level bike, for the then new sport of triathlons. Neat bike, although a bit large for me.
Not gems by any stretch, but not as common as most.
David Bilenkey Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
> -----Original Message-----
> From: classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org
> [mailto:classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org]On Behalf Of John Price
> Sent: July 23, 2002 5:59 PM
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR]French bikes not commonly found...
>
>
> A short while ago a Yvars came up on EBay. This was one French bike I'd
> never heard of before. This also got me thinking - what other
> French bikes
> are out there that we don't see or mention too often ? What's out there
> beside the Peugeots, Gitanes, Motobecanes, Alex Singers, Rene
> Herses ? And
> like the Yvars where do they fit in the scheme of things ? (my impression
> was that the Yvars was not a special bike - interesting, but not that
> special - apologies to any Yvars owners if I'm wrong in my impression).
>
> John Price
>
> Denver CO