I suppose that I was pushing my luck by suggesting in an earlier email that we might soon see the reappearance of brands such as Alcyon, Dilecta etc in France. Well.. thanks to David Feldman for proving me right by pointing out that in Canada there's a bike shop selling cyclo-cross fames under the Alcyon brand.It was no surprise to me to discover, via Google, that there is actually a cycle shop in Toulon, S france trading as Alcyon - Cycles et Motos - Vente et Reparations. Whether this guy reckons he is on to a good thing or whether he is the last dedicated fan of the defunct brand, I'm not certain For sure there can't be too many customers out there still riding their Alcyon bikes and mopeds, although I understand that several of the Alcyon trade teams of the 30s/40s came from that neck of the woods, along the Mediterranean coast. trade must be a bit thin though... Google also pointed me towards an "artisan" in the Loire district of la belle France, by the name of Picard, who at the age of 8 discovered a Picard moped - Picard being the forerunner of the Helyett company. So fired up was this country lad that he has spent much of his youth and later life hunting around for more Picards and Helyetts... restoring as many of them as he can get his hands on.
Well that Google contribution explains why I can never find one of Helyett's "Anquetil Speciale" when I'm scouring round the "brocantes" and charity shops.
Norris Lockley.. from a very November..y north of England