[CR]France-Loire frames

(Example: Framebuilding:Norris Lockley)

From: "Norris Lockley" <Norris.Lockley@btopenworld.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2004 18:47:11 -0000
Subject: [CR]France-Loire frames

Angel! Don't get too excited about France-Loire bikes. They're still there in a small town - Andrezieux-Boutheon - about 15 miles NW of St Etienne, but they're not producing much good stuff these days. Like most French companies they were badly hit when the supermarkets started selling bikes from Taiwan and everywhere else in the Far-East. Thesedays they assemble bits from other manufacturers, and their best bike is bottom end Campag built on to a TIG-welded Chinese frame. These machines sell in supermarkets such as Leclerc or Champion for about £200!!!. Often a supermarket such as Champion will have a Tour de France Special during July/August - usually equpiied with Shimano Sora to avoid a clash with the Campag model. Incredible value.

What you were looking at was a bike from the days when France-Loire were trying to hold market share across a good range of models. They sponsored the SEM-France-Loire team with Sean Kelly, riding Vitus 979s.Raymond Poulidor was, possibly still is a Director of the company, and in the late 80s you could still order decent steel frames bearing his name. It was quite an ego-trip discussing an order at the Paris Show with him. What a handshake he had and what a dreadfully rustic accent.

But all that's gone. Just another fantastic souvenir of what France, bike-wise, used to be.

Bye