Okay Grant - you beat me to the Bertrand punch - I was typing as you were sending ;-)
I think David Bilenkey knows more of the Bertrand saga - there are now two shops in Gatineau (as it is now known) - one run by the sons the other by the widow(?) of Gilles. The latter still has a collection of older bits and pieces whereas the new shop is all state of the art ;-)
Cheers,
Paul.
Paul Williams, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Grant McLean wrote:
>Since we're listing Canucks... (that's slang)
>
>Hull Quebec, across from Ottawa, Ontario,
>(the nations capital) is home to Gilles Bertrand,
>who built many a nice custom frame.
>
>I don't think Gilles is involved in the business
>anymore. I heard stories of divorce (what? people in
>Quebec got married? -sorry, that's an inside joke)
>and the store being sold, and some nasty business
>things happening. But the store is still there,
>and I think the frames now are built by Marinoni.
>
>There was a Bicycle Guide magazine "Canadian" issue
>around '87 it think. It featured his work, along
>with Joe Gardin, Jim Miele, of course the infamous
>Guiseppi "call me the Canadian Colnago" Marinoni.
>The cover had a curvy woman in a skinsuit with the
>Canadian flag design.
>
>Bertrand had a very detailed fit system, called
>"Cyclist Ergonomic Concept" and had computerized all
>his fitting info, even back in the 80's.
>
>I still see several Bertrand frames in my neighborhood,
>they appear nicely finished and reportedly ride very
>well. I wanted one "back in the day", but bought a
>531SL Marinoni from "ziggy" at "the bike shop" instead.
>
>http://www.gmbertrand.com/page2_en.htm
>
>Grant McLean(tm)
>Toronto.Ca
>
> O \O/
> _< \_ _< _
>(_)>(_) (_)>(_)
>
>Mike Barry of Mariposa has been building loverly bikes in the great =
>white north for a long time. Certainly within the CR timeline. He =
>continues to make bikes specializing in Randonnuer style bikes with hand =
>made racks. Pretty cool stuff. If you're into that sort of thing and =
>want a new one, this would be a good place to go. =20
>
>Curt Goodrich
>Minneapolis, MN